Universal Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment and Shady Acres Entertainment present a PG rated approximately 90 minute film directed by Tom Shadyac and starring Steve Carell (Evan Baxter), Morgan Freeman (God), Lauren Graham (Joan Baxter), Johnny Simmons (Dylan Baxter), Graham Phillips (Jordan Baxter), Jimmy Bennett (Ryan Baxter), John Goodman (Congressman Long), Wanda Sykes (Rita), John Michael Higgins (Marty), Jonah Hill (Eugene), Molly Shannon (Eve Adams) and Harve Presnell (Congressman Burrows).
First of all I don't know if I would consider this a sequel since the film premise pretty much stands on its own. Secondly, I loved the cast especially Carell and Sykes. No matter what you put that woman in she makes the audience laugh let alone pair her with Carell. Third, it may play on the Genesis 6:14 and the building of Noah's ark in this case Evan's ark with a bit of slapstick and humor but it also delivers a lesson sure to make you think twice about one act of random kindness at a time.
Evan leaves his current position in Buffalo as a television anchor to become a Congressman in Washington. He, his wife, Joan and three sons move into a beautiful home in a housing division in Prestige Crest. His motto in life is to "change the world" and he constantly reinforces his ego as successful, powerful, handsome and happy. Suddenly tools start to show up at his door from Alpha and Omega hardware and tons of lumber starts appearing on his lawn. His morning alarm flashes 6:14 and God appears in the form of a man in his yard, car, sidewalks and pretty much everywhere with a message to build an ark. Animals in groups of two start stalking him from all walks of species but not until he is overrun by birds in his office does his co-workers and Congressman Long happen to think he is going a bit crazy.
Congressman Long by the way has his own motive for giving Evan and his chief of staff and executive assistant a plush office. Long wants him to join him in signing through Congress a land act bill which happens to smell a bit bad and its not because of the skunks or bird droppings. God shows Evan his valley before development than after which truly strikes the inner heart of the powers of human encroachment and the damage it could have on the environment and the life in which it supports.
Evan even against his will eventually starts to take on the outer appearances of Noah himself which leads his staff, community and family to cast doubt upon his motives and stability at work and home. A beard that won't stop growing, buying up land to build an ark and dogs, cats, lions, elephants, zebras, enough birds to scare Tippi Hedren all over again, basically all species of animals following him everywhere lead up to something beyond midlife crisis. But on September 22 at mid-day the answers will come in the form of a great flood and prove to everyone that the signs have always been there and only need to be followed. Sometimes they are right in front of us and we don't see them. Ok, maybe not as obvious as a huge ark but you get the drift.
But a storm is brewing and it may not be in the sky but rather in Congress which involves Congressman Long and his motives behind the land act and other ill conceived projects. Even though Evan is suspended as a Congressman he knows for damn sure there is a lot to be done on Capital Hill. How do you change the world? Spell "ARK" an act of random kindness and remember that thou shall do the dance.
I absolutely loved this film which is filled with great cinematography and the best of the best from what appears to be the nature channel. If a monkey can swing a hammer, a giraffe carry buckets of nails, a lion scare the heck out of a pansy television reporter than maybe we can have at least an ounce of respect for all of God's creatures and the beauty and abilities to bring into our everyday lives. This film made me laugh at it's brilliant cast, revel in the majesty of all the animals and even tear up at the moral lesson behind it's wonderfully written story. Bottom line its worthy of everyone's time to check this one out because after 40 days and 40 nights not even the Al Mighty can put a damper on this ones successful future on the big screen and eventual DVD sales.
Reporting for Talkin' Pets, I'm Jon Patch.