Film not answer to our prayers
When a sequel to a hit comedy is in the works, and the two big stars walk away before cameras even start rolling, it's never a good sign, writes our Movie Blogger Carl Jones.
That's why I sat down with some trepidation to view Evan Almighty, writes our Movie Blogger Carl Jones.
Jim Carrey and Jennifer Aniston both opted out of reprising their characters in this belated sequel, and it's clear to see why.
For it merely retraces the same ground covered by its predecessor – an ordinary, rather flawed man being sent on a quest of self improvement with occasionally calamitous consequences – but isn't nearly as laugh-out-loud funny.
The other big disadvantage is Steve Carell, who doesn't possess Carrey's manic energy and isn't particularly helped by the routine script.
In the 2003 comedy Bruce Almighty, Jim Carrey's TV reporter played God with disastrous consequences, discovering that with great power comes the ability to create great calamity.
This time Carell, who played Bruce's sworn rival Evan Baxter in that first film, takes centre stage.
Bidding farewell to his job as anchorman on Eyewitness News, he transplants his entire family halfway across the country to pursue his a career in Congress.
The workload is heavy, keeping Evan from his loved ones, and he strives tirelessly to impress influential Congressman Long (John Goodman) who holds the key to his career enhancement.
With his family falling to pieces around him, Evan is shocked when a benevolent stranger dressed in white (Morgan Freeman) appears before him, saying: "I am God and I want you, Evan Baxter, to build an ark."
Evan is understandably reticent – the nation is experiencing the hottest and driest season for years – but when he begins to sprout a beard and animals flock to his side two-by-two, he feels rather compelled to oblige.
Abiding by God's wishes, Evan races against time to build the boat, while his loved ones and political allies watch in a combination of frustration and bemusement.
The movie lays on the moralising with a giant shovel, and the religious subtext screams louder than John Debney's orchestral score, extolling the virtues of a united and loving family with an unwavering faith in the Lord.
But in spite of it all, this big-budget family comedy does possesses a certain sweetness – albeit with too many spoonfuls of sugar in places – and manages to contrive a decent special-effects-laden finale when we wait to see whether all those predictions of an impending flood hold any kind of water.
Evan Almighty is neither heaven nor hell . . . but if you were hoping for a sparkling, memorable family comedy, it's not the answer to your prayers either.
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After giving multiplexes something of a ticking off a couple of weeks ago for their rather routine fare and lack of convivial atmosphere, I must give Cineworld Shrewsbury a pat on the back for their current "best of British" film season.
I popped along to a screening of Bond classic Goldfinger last week which attracted a near packed house - covering probably as wide an array of the social spectrum as the cinema has ever achieved.
Further mouthwatering offerings include Brief Encounter, The Dam Busters, and the original 1973 version of The Wicker Man.
Let's just hope the lip synching is rather more slick than it was for their screening of the digitally remastered Connery classic. It's rather ironic that the eagerly awaited big screen return of the quintessential 007 film which won an Oscar for its sound was let down by . . . its sound!
Was anyone else there? What did you think about it..?
