Evan Almighty Film Preview
What would happen if God endowed a mere mortal with all His powers? That was the question behind the 2003 hit comedy Bruce Almighty.
If you saw the film, you probably remember the hilarious and often questionable ways in which Bruce used those powers: parting a bowl of tomato soup, supernaturally lighting birthday candles, sabotaging co-workers, even enhancing his girlfriend’s body! But underneath the gags and gaffes was a serious commentary about God and humanity. The film seemed to make the point that no matter how unfair we think life is, God belongs at the helm and we do not. At the end of the story Bruce breaks down and relinquishes control: “I can’t do it anymore. You’re God and I’m not!”
This summer a sequel to Bruce Almighty hits theaters with a similar premise: What if God asked a man to do something that looked absolutely bizarre to everyone around him? Meet Evan, the fictional protagonist from what is sure to be this summer’s most talked about comedy, Evan Almighty. In the film Evan is given a challenge of biblical proportions—literally. God asks him to build an ark, right in the middle of his Northern Virginia suburb. Evan, Bruce’s news-casting nemesis from the first movie, is played by Steve Carell (The Office, Little Miss Sunshine) and Morgan Freeman reprises his role as God.
In the film’s trailer a voiceover intones, “Throughout history the Almighty has appeared to a very special few: Abraham … Moses … Bruce. But God only knows why He chose Evan.” Evan wonders too. The challenge of building an ark doesn’t exactly fit his new image as a respectable member of Congress. Even his appearance starts to resemble that of the original ark-builder, Noah. Every time Evan shaves, his beard grows back instantly. Evan’s family and friends are perplexed. And so is Evan. As the monstrous ark takes shape in his backyard (which the film crew built to the exact specifications outlined in the Bible), Evan has little explanation beyond that which God gave him: “Tell them a flood is coming.” Onlookers are left to wonder if Evan is having a midlife crisis, or if he really has heard the voice of God.
More Than Just Laughs
“In a way the name of the film is deceptive because it’s not really a sequel to Bruce Almighty,” says the film’s director, Tom Shadyac. “It’s just the next chapter in the God series.” Shadyac points out two substantial differences between Bruce and Evan. The first is a matter of scale. “If Bruce was large, then this film is gargantuan! We built a full-size ark and shot with hundreds of animals.”
The second difference comes at the level of religious meaning. “The first film, Bruce Almighty, was about giving power over to God,” Shadyac says. “This film is about God taking power away.”
Like Bruce Almighty, Evan Almighty promises to provide plenty of laughs. Yet beyond the comedic moments is an important underlying message. Evan’s humorous plight reminds us about the importance of hearing God’s voice and responding in faith.
Shadyac, a Christian who specializes in weaving spiritual themes into his blockbuster movies, says the spiritual content came from his own experience. When asked about how much of the struggles portrayed in Evan Almighty come from his life, he responds: “One hundred percent. Everything I do comes from my personal walk.”
Shadyac’s spiritual pilgrimage started early. “I was raised going to Catholic school. That’s where I heard about Jesus. I was young, but I instinctively knew that there was something about this Jesus that was cool, that He had the answers. And somehow, even though I was very young, it just stuck.”
Shadyac believes that Evan Almighty has a broad message. “We may not all be called to build an ark,” he says. “But we’re all called to do impossible things. Evan relates to situations that we all face. We hear that voice and we are given a chance to obey, even though sometimes what we are told here it doesn’t make sense to do so.”
For Shadyac following “the voice” meant forgoing the security of a regular career and trying his hand at filmmaking. “When I moved out west to pursue a creative career it didn’t make sense, but I had to do it. I heard that voice.”
Still, success did not come quickly. It wasn’t until after “knocking on doors for 11 years” that Shadyac got his big break with the comedy smash hit Ace Ventura: Pet Detective in 1993. Since then Shadyac has had a variety of hits including Liar, Liar, The Nutty Professor and Patch Adams. Though some may balk at the idea of a Christian working in Hollywood, Shadyac views his job as a way to reach others and “move them just a bit further along in their own journeys” toward God.
In a humorous clip from Evan Almighty, God, played by Freeman, supernaturally appears in the back seat of Evan’s car while he is driving. Shocked by the sudden appearance, Evan lets out a series of horrified screams. The amused Freeman pats Evan reassuringly on the shoulder. “Let it out son,” he says. “That’s the beginning of wisdom.” Freeman’s line comes from a verse found in the book of Proverbs: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 1:7). Though meeting God is frightening for Evan, it is necessary for him to appreciate who God is before he can obey His command.
It is much the same in our lives. If you want wisdom to know what to do with your life, you must first seek God. Then He will begin to reveal the purpose He has for you. For Shadyac, living for God is the ultimate calling. “The Christian life can be tough,” he says. “But for me God is all there is. There’s no other reality that compares.”
If you saw the film, you probably remember the hilarious and often questionable ways in which Bruce used those powers: parting a bowl of tomato soup, supernaturally lighting birthday candles, sabotaging co-workers, even enhancing his girlfriend’s body! But underneath the gags and gaffes was a serious commentary about God and humanity. The film seemed to make the point that no matter how unfair we think life is, God belongs at the helm and we do not. At the end of the story Bruce breaks down and relinquishes control: “I can’t do it anymore. You’re God and I’m not!”
This summer a sequel to Bruce Almighty hits theaters with a similar premise: What if God asked a man to do something that looked absolutely bizarre to everyone around him? Meet Evan, the fictional protagonist from what is sure to be this summer’s most talked about comedy, Evan Almighty. In the film Evan is given a challenge of biblical proportions—literally. God asks him to build an ark, right in the middle of his Northern Virginia suburb. Evan, Bruce’s news-casting nemesis from the first movie, is played by Steve Carell (The Office, Little Miss Sunshine) and Morgan Freeman reprises his role as God.
In the film’s trailer a voiceover intones, “Throughout history the Almighty has appeared to a very special few: Abraham … Moses … Bruce. But God only knows why He chose Evan.” Evan wonders too. The challenge of building an ark doesn’t exactly fit his new image as a respectable member of Congress. Even his appearance starts to resemble that of the original ark-builder, Noah. Every time Evan shaves, his beard grows back instantly. Evan’s family and friends are perplexed. And so is Evan. As the monstrous ark takes shape in his backyard (which the film crew built to the exact specifications outlined in the Bible), Evan has little explanation beyond that which God gave him: “Tell them a flood is coming.” Onlookers are left to wonder if Evan is having a midlife crisis, or if he really has heard the voice of God.
More Than Just Laughs
“In a way the name of the film is deceptive because it’s not really a sequel to Bruce Almighty,” says the film’s director, Tom Shadyac. “It’s just the next chapter in the God series.” Shadyac points out two substantial differences between Bruce and Evan. The first is a matter of scale. “If Bruce was large, then this film is gargantuan! We built a full-size ark and shot with hundreds of animals.”
The second difference comes at the level of religious meaning. “The first film, Bruce Almighty, was about giving power over to God,” Shadyac says. “This film is about God taking power away.”
Like Bruce Almighty, Evan Almighty promises to provide plenty of laughs. Yet beyond the comedic moments is an important underlying message. Evan’s humorous plight reminds us about the importance of hearing God’s voice and responding in faith.
Shadyac, a Christian who specializes in weaving spiritual themes into his blockbuster movies, says the spiritual content came from his own experience. When asked about how much of the struggles portrayed in Evan Almighty come from his life, he responds: “One hundred percent. Everything I do comes from my personal walk.”
Shadyac’s spiritual pilgrimage started early. “I was raised going to Catholic school. That’s where I heard about Jesus. I was young, but I instinctively knew that there was something about this Jesus that was cool, that He had the answers. And somehow, even though I was very young, it just stuck.”
Shadyac believes that Evan Almighty has a broad message. “We may not all be called to build an ark,” he says. “But we’re all called to do impossible things. Evan relates to situations that we all face. We hear that voice and we are given a chance to obey, even though sometimes what we are told here it doesn’t make sense to do so.”
For Shadyac following “the voice” meant forgoing the security of a regular career and trying his hand at filmmaking. “When I moved out west to pursue a creative career it didn’t make sense, but I had to do it. I heard that voice.”
Still, success did not come quickly. It wasn’t until after “knocking on doors for 11 years” that Shadyac got his big break with the comedy smash hit Ace Ventura: Pet Detective in 1993. Since then Shadyac has had a variety of hits including Liar, Liar, The Nutty Professor and Patch Adams. Though some may balk at the idea of a Christian working in Hollywood, Shadyac views his job as a way to reach others and “move them just a bit further along in their own journeys” toward God.
In a humorous clip from Evan Almighty, God, played by Freeman, supernaturally appears in the back seat of Evan’s car while he is driving. Shocked by the sudden appearance, Evan lets out a series of horrified screams. The amused Freeman pats Evan reassuringly on the shoulder. “Let it out son,” he says. “That’s the beginning of wisdom.” Freeman’s line comes from a verse found in the book of Proverbs: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 1:7). Though meeting God is frightening for Evan, it is necessary for him to appreciate who God is before he can obey His command.
It is much the same in our lives. If you want wisdom to know what to do with your life, you must first seek God. Then He will begin to reveal the purpose He has for you. For Shadyac, living for God is the ultimate calling. “The Christian life can be tough,” he says. “But for me God is all there is. There’s no other reality that compares.”
posted by Drew Dyck at 10:33 AM
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