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Evolution
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by Dreamworks Video
Sales Rank: 19181
Price: $9.95
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Based on the evidence in <I>Evolution</I>, one thing is perfectly clear: special effects have evolved, but director Ivan Reitman has reverted to primitive pandering. Equally obvious is the fact that <I>Evolution</I> is a de facto rip-off of Reitman's 1984 classic <I>Ghostbusters</I>, but this time there's no Bill Murray to deliver the best punch lines (we have to settle for fellow ghostbuster Dan Aykroyd in a broad supporting role), and the comedy has devolved into a grossfest including deep-rectal extraction of alien insects, fire-hose enemas into a giant alien sphincter, and a full-moon display of David Duchovny's naked posterior. Whereas <I>Ghostbusters</I> was a shrewd, irreverent mainstream comedy that combined gooey spectral ectoplasm with something resembling genuine wit, <I>Evolution</I> is a crude, juvenile romp in which all things slimy are elevated to comedic supremacy.<p> Granted, that's not always a bad thing. As latter-day ghostbuster equivalents, Duchovny, Orlando Jones, and Seann William Scott make a fine comedic trio, and Julianne Moore is equally amusing as a clumsy scientist and Duchovny's obligatory love interest. Despite the meddling of clueless military buffoons, they join forces to eradicate a wild variety of rapidly evolving alien creatures that arrived on Earth via meteor impact, and the extraterrestrial beasties (courtesy of effects wizard Phil Tippet and crew) are outrageously designed and marvelously convincing. For anyone who prefers lowbrow humor, <I>Evolution</I> will prove as entertaining as <I>Ghostbusters</I> (or at least <I>Galaxy Quest</I>), while others may lament Reitman's shameless embrace of crudeness. One thing's for certain: after seeing this movie, you'll gain a whole new appreciation for Head & Shoulders shampoo. <I>--Jeff Shannon</I>
Viewer Reviews
Yes, liberties were taken with science, BUT the science is much better than other movies that took themselves much more seriously. It's a frickin' comedy, get over it. Now that is behind us...
What an excellent comedy. David Duchovny was surprisingly adept at comedy, especially the low key, intellectual stuff, balanced by Orlando Jones for more down-to-earth humor, Julianne Moore as an uncoordinated but serious scientist, and Sean William Scott for the the really bawdy, slapstick stuff. Not a combination of actors I would normally have considered, but performed brilliantly together.
This movie is not comedy for the lowest common denominator, and therefore a pleasant relief from the run of the mill productions these days. The premise is simple; panspermia strikes again (and if this makes no sense to you, pass on this movie). An alien single-cell organism rides to Earth on a meteor, but has a much faster life cycle than any Earthly organism. And it is adapting quickly. And then the problem gets worse; the government gets involved.
Great visual comedy, great dialog, a little coarse in places, and great fun. Worth watching, and worth watching the alien environment scenes a second time to pick up on all the detail.
E. M. Van Court
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Evolution
Available from Amazon
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