My review is about a month-late, but I felt it was worthwhile to post my thoughts on this somewhat controversial (only in Christian subcultures) flick.
Jess and I were able to take this one in on a date-night provided by her parents who agreed to watch Ella for us while we shared a few hours of us-time! We saw this one at the Majestic theater – a theater that we will be visiting often!
First off – the movie was great! I loved it. We loved it! We laughed out loud at parts and so did most of the crowd.
I came in to the theater with pretty high expectations and those were met and exceeded! Steve Carell as Evan Baxter fit the lead very well – his family (wife and three boys) not-so-much. Morgan Freeman as ‘God’ just as in ‘Bruce Almighty’ proved comical and entertaining – with a hint of ‘reverence’, too!
The problem that I DID have with the movie that I couldn’t quite pinpoint until a conversation just a week-or-so ago is that this movie was literally “marketed” to the church! As a pastor, this film was promoted by Christian organizations for me to simply “take my whole church to see”.
I disagree with anyone who would claim that “Evan Almighty” (or “Bruce Almighty”) is a ‘Christian’ film. It’s not. It is much-more an ‘Ecological Green’-film if it has to be labeled at all. The theme of Noah’s Ark is an obvious Biblical one, but the movie isn’t about God wiping the face of the earth clear of sin by drowning every man, woman, and child with a flood. It’s about saving forests and animals and stuff – we’re talking tree-hugging, NOT Gospel-presenting.
That said, there ARE some great “Spiritual Lessons” found in between the lines of “Evan Almighty” – and these SHOULD be pointed out and applauded for making their way into a Hollywood film. Lessons about prayer, faith, and love are promoted in positive-light via “Evan Almighty” and it’s off-the-wall plot, but promoting the film as a “Christian Film” was a mistake; and organizations like Interlinc and Youth Specialties should be embarrassed for doing so.
Christians need to watch out for marketing ploys from Hollywood attempting to target them – not to increase their faith and strengthen their walk with Christ – but to gain access to their cash. It seems as though after Gibson’s “Passion”, everyone is attempting to market to “those rich Christians” who have nothing better to do with their money ‘cept buy Testamints and Jesus Action Figures (complete with water-into-wine jugs!).
stevansheets.com gives “Evan Almighty” a 4 out of 5.
One of your best reviews so far. Loved it!
For one major reason I do not have an ounce of a desire to watch either movie, this one or the first one…I am going to applaud something that I feel is sacrilegious from all I have heard about it.
If you can tell me that this or the first movie is NOT sacrilegious (definition – Gross irreverence toward a hallowed person, place or thing), then I might reconsider my view from what I have heard described!
I am going to say here too, that I feel that we who are Christians are being targeted (rooted from Satan) to bring us to the point of becoming personally insensitive to what God clearly tells us in His Holy Word and what we need to be warned against, and especially now in these last days!
I am still an example to those I am responsible for, I want to be as careful as God asks me to be!