Starring: Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham, John Goodman
Director: Tom Shadyac
Scheduled release: Now showing

In hindsight, Bruce Almighty was the death knell for the Jim Carrey we know and love. That wasn’t completely a bad thing: running away from manic comedy allowed Carrey the best acting of his career in Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It also allowed for The Number 23. You win some, and you really, really lose some. But that wacky clown with the ability to manipulate his body like it was made of chewing gum was seen hardening in Bruce Almighty, his artful physical comedy becoming a frantic centrepiece to otherwise inept material. It seems strange that Bruce was Carrey’s moment of decay while the film’s sequel, Evan Almighty, welcomes the great Steve Carell into the annals of mainstream comedic stardom.

Carell’s been smart, so far, with his choices of role. Stepping out with small parts in Bruce Almighty and Woody Allen’s Melinda and Melinda, Carell hit pay dirt with last summer’s sleeper-hit The 40-Year-Old Virgin, which quickly established him as an actor with even measures of heart and humour. Then he starred in another sleeper: last year’s Oscar-nominated Little Miss Sunshine. It now seems time to allow Carell to try his hand at big-budget ($1,370,021,800 to be exact) summer comedies, seeing if his mug can rake in the big bucks.

Evan Almighty couldn’t be more critically bulletproof. It’s a story about Evan Baxter (Carell) who has just won a seat in Congress and is moving his family to a high-priced mini-mansion in Washington DC. Not two days into his new job, Evan is approached by God (perfectly re-cast Morgan Freeman) to start building an ark to support his family and some animals when a great flood hits on September 22.

Though it takes some cajoling, Evan eventually steps into the shoes of Noah, despite pleas from his wife (Lauren Graham) and assistants. His sons think he’s lost it but decide to help him with construction anyway. The only boulder in the way is Congressman Long (John Goodman), a bully of a corrupt politician who uses Evan’s insanity as a way to help his own agenda.

Evan is a family film in the guise of a comedy, though I don’t remembering even giggling once (nor did my father, along for the ride). But the masses will embrace it, because it has a comfortable edge and the foresight to accept the presence of God upfront. This is not meant to be condescending at all: I’ve happily sat through Norbit and Bridge to Terabithia in the name of family with only slight bite marks on my tongue. However, it does hurt to watch Carell keep himself subdued and restrained when the film pleads for some exuberance. It’s hapless entertainment that will make kids laugh and parents happy to be done with the working week. The critic in me screams but the family man completely understands.

Chris Cabin