Evolution (2001)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Ivan Reitman

Writers (WGA):

Don Jakoby (story)
David Diamond (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

8 June 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Have a nice end of the world.

Plot:

A firefighting cadet, two college professors, and a geeky-but-sexy government scientist work against an alien organism that has been rapidly evolving ever since its arrival on Earth inside a meteor.

Plot Keywords:

Government | Alien | Planet | College Professor | Military

Cast

David Duchovny	...	Ira
Julianne Moore	...	Allison
Orlando Jones	...	Harry
Seann William Scott	...	Wayne
Ted Levine	...	Gen. Woodman
Ethan Suplee	...	Deke
Michael Bower	...	Danny (as Michael Ray Bower)
Pat Kilbane	...	Officer Johnson
Ty Burrell	...	Flemming
Dan Aykroyd	...	Governor Lewis
Katharine Towne	...	Nadine
Gregory Itzin	...	Cartwright
Ashley Clark	...	Lt. Cryer
Michelle Wolff	...	Carla
Sarah Silverman	...	Denise

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, and for sci-fi action.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Brazil:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #38254) | Iceland:10 (original rating) | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Malaysia:U | Canada:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:PG | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | South Korea:12

Filming Locations:

California State University - 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, California, USA

Company:

Montecito Picture Company, The

Trivia:

David Duchovny turned down a role in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) to appear in this movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the meteor hits Wayne's car we clearly see the windscreen fly off into the air and smash, but later when the police turn the car over the windscreen is back on the car with very little damage.

Quotes:

Harry Block: Ira, are you sure you can handle this on your lonesome?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Rundown (2003)

Soundtrack:

Play That Funky Music

Surprisingly fun!

I can't say I suspected much from the previews. I anticipated another lame comedy and a cheap imitation of "Men in Black." "Evolution" can be compared to "MIB" in certain aspects, but it breaks new ground.

I can't give a really scientific review, because quite frankly I was too busy laughing to weigh out the pros and cons. This is a great popcorn movie! (Metaphorically speaking, I was eating nachos) There are scary moments involving slimy creatures, so chances are if there are any females with you--they will be clinging onto your arms.

Ivan Reitman is the famed director of the "Ghostbusters" movies, and "Evolution" has much of the same charm and quirky sense of style and humor. David Duchovny (who really has a good sense of humor off-camera, but happens to get stuck with mostly serious roles) is terrific in a looser role that enables him to flaunt his knack for comedy. Of course, Orlando Jones is the funniest in the bunch. He has a terrific scene in which a bug crawls inside his skin and doctors have to get it out...rectally. I have to say, that was the highlight of this offbeat comedy and had me on the floor! Julianne Moore plays the clumsy assistant. I can't say I found her role all that humorous. Her pratfalls are pretty lame and predictable. But that minor hint of cheap slapstick didn't ruin the overall experience.

"Evolution" is great fun from start to finish (a very interesting finish with an innovative product placement)! Sure, it's all low-brow, but it works and the crude humor is tamed down to a tolerant level (Well, compared to the average contemporary comedy). This is not a movie to be studied or analyzed or discussed for hours at a time. Just sit back and HAVE SOME FUN!!! Because chances are (considering previous 2001 releases) you won't be having this much fun at the movies in quite a while. I could be wrong, but better to be safe than sorry.

My score: 7 (out of 10)