Hey folks, Harry here with 3 looks at EVOLUTION... one by a fella that compares the film to Reitman's bag of popcorn.... one that has been going through Duchovny withdrawls with her sweaty libido and the third came from long time AICN-er The Living Tribunal, who... well didn't care for it. Ultimately the film will hit different people differently... and it isn't finished yet... lots of effects work still to be done... Reitman is testing to make sure the timing of the humor and the dynamics of the dramatics work.... Hopefully the film is just getting better by the process... we'll see this summer won't we? Here ya go.... batter up....
Hey Harry,
I just caught a test screening of "Evolution" at the AMC 14 theater in Burbank this evening. Ivan Reitman himself was in attendance, but unilke last weeks reports from Albaquerwerkeeeeee (if I'm going to mispell it, might as well go down in flames), he did not make his presence known, nor did he speak before the film began. It was kind of cool to see him sitting amongst the crowd of almost 500 people or so, just chillin' in his stadium seat with a bag o' popcorn.
In fact, Ivan's bag of popcorn can be used as a great analogy for this film (which is in itself, ironically reminiscent of the infamous Twinkie analogy in "Ghostbusters"). But I digress.
EVOLUTION vs. BAG o' POPCORN:
1. Both are satisfying and filling, taste great going down, but are a little bit lacking in nutrition.
2. Everyone in the world has had popcorn thousands of times before and knows what to expect from it - but as long as it's good, you'll eat the whole bag and feel pretty darn happy about it.
3. Both are exactly what you want at the theater when you go to the movies in the summer.
"Evolution" is fun. It doesn't take itself seriously, and neither should the audience. Everyone should just sit back, let the lights go dark, and then let that little inner child (the one that nearly lost control of his bladder when the Stay Puft Man first appeared on the New York skyline) enjoy the movie as it unfolds.
If you haven't caught on yet, it's hard to write about this film without using a "Ghostbusters" frame of reference. Frankly, thouugh, I was enjoying the movie enough that I didn't mind any of the superficial similarities.
People may also complain about the slighly one sided characters. But this is not "What Evolved from Gilbert Grape", nor does it ever claim to be. In fact, whenever I began to have a problem with the romantic relationship developed in the movie (between Julianne Moore and David Duchovny), I just reminded myself that I just watched 500 gallons of shampoo used as a weapon in a previous scene. Don't ask.
While the characterizations may be thin, the performances (especially by Orlando Jones and Seann William Scott) are lots of fun to watch. Both those guys can get laughs without even saying a word. All they have to do is smirk, wink, or smile in the right spot and everything around it suddenly works.
As for the visual effects - the ones that are finished are astounding (a dragon who attacks shopping mall patrons is especially memorable) and the ones that weren't finsihed yet (basically the finale of the film) seemed to have a lot of potential and will totally make this worth seeing again, come June.
Is this film perfect? Far from it. It does lack the quick wit or brilliant comedy of say... "Ghostbusters". However, this is the type of movie that makes me wish that I was 12 years old again - enjoying one of those first few free nights of summer vacation, sitting in an air conditioned theater, bag o' popcorn on my lap, watching the good guys blow things up while the bad guys get slimed.
As long as your not a post-modern cynic or a film snob, I'd recommend "Evolution" without any reservations.
-THE TALENTED MR. PAUKEY -
And now for the salivating lips and glossy fingertips of the Duchovny loving gal... TGirl....
EVOLUTION Review (Burbank Screening)
As a frequent reader of this site, I jumped at the chance to go see a preview screening of EVOLUTION in Burbank tonight. I’ve read a couple of conflicting reviews here, so I was eager to make up my own mind. So the roomie and I headed over to the Burbank theater. First I have to say, straight off the bat, that I agree with the positives on this one. I think this movie’s great fun and will be bringing smiles to lots of faces this summer.
Let’s start with the obvious – Ivan Reitman. I’m a fan. OK… he’s done a few crappy ones lately (FATHERS DAY – Yeech!) But, any guy who did STRIPES (a classic… and "That’s a fact, Jack!"), MEATBALLS (the first movie I saw without parental supervision), ANIMAL HOUSE (THE quintessential college frat house movie), DAVE (as a DC native… this is big at the homestead), TWINS, KINDERGARTEN COP (who knew "The Terminator" could make me laugh… a lot!) and, of course GHOSTBUSTERS (I still can’t pass it by on cable 10 years after seeing it for the first time…) is all right by me. Needless to say, when I hear that he’s at the helm of EVOLUTION, I’ve got to go check it out. Not to mention I’ve been going through serious Duchovny withdrawls – with him in a coma on the X Files – and couldn’t wait to get a much needed dose of "Double D".
I don’t want to spoil any of the plot for you guys, so I won’t retell the story… but I will say this… Mr. Reitman sticks to his "underdog saves the day" roots with this movie. This group of loveable (sometimes clumsy, and oftentimes funny) misfits meander through this discovery of extraterrestrial life and, against the government and all odds, manage to annihilate the aliens and save the world.
I hear ya’ when you’re saying this sounds a bit like GHOSTBUSTERS. It is. But what’s wrong with molding a film after one of the greatest comedic films ever? Nothing, I say. All movies are some sort of bastardization of films or books past anyway, right? Reitman’s ANIMAL HOUSE has been done and re-done hundreds of times… sometimes with good results (FAST TIMES, AMERICAN PIE), sometimes with not so good results (PCU). Haven’t we all seen the story of GLADIATOR, before? You couldn’t have missed all the BEN HUR references at the Academy Awards. That doesn’t take away from it’s deserving Best Movie Oscar though, right? Nor should it. It’s a damn good movie. And so is EVOLUTION.
EVOLUTION is a fun feel good big special effects movie that is very well acted. David Duchovny is sweet, smart, sexy and a little sarcastic – just the way I like my men (but I don’t want any of you ladies getting’ any ideas – I call dibs if the Tea thing doesn’t work out!!). You definitely see a different side to him – not just Mulder. And Orlando Jones – I knew him only from his 7-Up ad’s – was really funny… and extremely easy on the eyes to boot! He’s got this hilarious scene that I don’t want to spoil, but it will crack you up. It will forever change my view on the importance of bug repellent, that’s for sure. Sean William Scott – I’m not sure if he IS that guy or he’s an amazing actor… but man, he nails the semi-numbskulled wanna-be fireman to a T. So cute and endearing. You just want to pack him up in your back pocket and have him around you all the time. Julianne Moore is always a star in my eyes… so I was a bit disappointed to not get more of her… but what you get is good. As a girl, I would have liked a bit more of the love stuff. A bit more time invested in the budding relationship between Ira and Allison… but I understand that this isn’t a romance movie – it’s a sci-fi comedy, so I’ll let that slide. The important thing is that the lead actors all play really well off of each other. They seemed like they were having fun, and as a result I had fun watching them.
I cared less for the secondary characters – though there’s a pair of chubby college brothers who provide several good laughs. I wasn’t too keen on the girl that played Ira’s girlfriend… she seemed a bit whiny and over the top – but luckily you don’t have to put up with more than a few minutes of her. Likewise for the Nadine character – Harry is supposed to be smitten with her, but I just don’t see it. I mean, she’s a cute blond and all… but the personality is not one I would imagine Harry would go for. A little to jaded and bitchy. The General is played by the creepy guy from SILENCE OF THE LAMBS ("It put’s the lotion in the basket… PUT THE LOTION IN THE BASKET!!")… but he’s not really spectacular in this. He’s fine… nothing spectacular, just fine. But, as I said, these are not big problems – as none of them have too much screen time anyway.
Overall, here’s my 2 cents. EVOLUTION will be a great summer flick. I will definitely be plunkin’ down my 8 bucks to see it when it’s completely finished. The special effects that were completed were unlike any I’ve seen before – so realistic. The main characters are all fun and likeable – you are rooting for them from the get-go, and you get rewarded at the end when your favorite misfits prove worthy of your adoration. It’s a big fun ride that Reitman takes us on with this film – one full of laughs, amazing special effects, and a couple of jump out of your chair moments along the way.
So take it from two chicks who love to laugh… the roomie and I agree, EVOLUTION is not to be missed. The only thing we disagree on is which of those handsome heroes is the sexiest….
Sign Me.
TGirl
And then we have The Living Tribunal, who was one of the first folks anywhere to tell us about RUN LOLA RUN way back in February of 1999... He loved that.... sad the same can't be said here...
"This is horseshit!" - David Duchovny in Evolution
The Living Tribunal checking in from Burbank where there was another test screening for EVOLUTION and the above quote pretty much sums up the movie. Duchovny shouts the line just before bearing his ass, pressing his ebony half-moons against the windshield of a Jeep toward Ted Levine. It's the first of two high points of the film both involving asses.
As you know, EVOLUTION is about an asteroid that lands in the Arizona desert and contains an alien organism that is capable of muy rapido evolution (hence the title). Ivan Reitman seems to be trying to recapture the glory of GHOSTBUSTERS via the way of fifties sci-fi classics like IT CAME FROM ANOTHER WORLD and THEM! (which is a personal favorite of mine). It's a really cool idea, the execution is for shit.
Why? First,the script is flat-out terrible. Did they give the re-writers only four days to work on this or what? Julianne Moore's main character trait is that she is clumsy. Seriously. That's her character. Attractiv and clumsy. The female staff writer from LARRY SANDERS shows up as Duchovny's ex-girlfriend completely out of the blue halfway through the movie for the sole purpose of showing her breasts. And the jokes. Good God, the jokes. Cliched, uninspired, pick your cliche, they just weren't funny.
Now GHOSTBUSTERS (a movie I absolutely adore) did not have the greatest script in the world. Think about it. "Where do these stairs go?" "They go up." That is not funny on paper, but I bust a gut every time that part comes up. The acting in GHOSTBUSTERS is great. That's what sells that movie. Bill Murray and Harold Ramis and even Ernie Hudson in his small role. They're all really charismatic and funny. In my opinion, their performances are what make that movie. Unfortunately, their are no such performances in EVOLUTION. Julianne Moore has shit to work with, but at least she tries which is more than I can say for Duchovny. Wooden, wooden, wooden. Even more so than when he is on X-FILES. Look at him when he realizes that he has made the most important scientific discovery in the history of mankind--he does it monotone from a sitting position. Seann Michael Scott is completely over the top in every scene he's in (which works in AMERICAN PIE, but not here) and Ted Levine is basically Jame Gumb in an army uniform (which, now that I think about it, is really pretty funny).
The one exception to this is Orlando Jones. His best work since OFFICE SPACE, bar none. We all loved him. God, is he funny. The second high point of the movie involving an ass is when they have to fish out one of the alien creatures from his colon. Unfortunately, you've seen that bit in the trailer already. Is Orlando a star yet? I think he is, but if you don't he will be after this.
The creatures are okay, I guess. Actually, their pretty far and few between, especially in the first part of the movie. Their design is nothing you haven't seen before. In fact, all the CGI (which was mostly complete here) is nothing too groundbreaking. We've seen this kinda stuff in DRAGONHEART and THE PHANTOM MENACE already.
And guns. GHOSBUSTERS had something original and interesting like nuclear accelerator backpacks. All they could really think of were guns here. Anyway, the movie completely lost me when Stifler started singing "You Are So Beautiful" to lure the dragon creature out of hiding during the mall scene.
About half of the audience seemed to be into the movie. The other half just kind of...sat there. They must have felt like my friend who quothed: "No amount of polish is going to save this turd."
Endearingly Yours,
Living Tribunal
