Two college professors team up with a fire-fighting cadet and a government scientist to combat an alien organism that has been rapidly evolving since its arrival on Earth inside a meteor.Two college professors team up with a fire-fighting cadet and a government scientist to combat an alien organism that has been rapidly evolving since its arrival on Earth inside a meteor.Two college professors team up with a fire-fighting cadet and a government scientist to combat an alien organism that has been rapidly evolving since its arrival on Earth inside a meteor.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Awards
- 2 nominations total
- Danny
- (as Michael Ray Bower)
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This is a silly comedy with some enjoyable moments.
Evolution attempts to cash in on some established formula, such as the spectacle-driven comedy of Ghostbusters, David Duchovny hunting aliens in a buddy-buddy double act with comedian Orlando Jones, and the likes of Jullianne Moore and Sean William Scott also at the peak of their popularity.
As with all comedy, it's beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so it depends on your sense of humour as to how much you will take from Evolution. There is nothing sophisticated about it, but if you appreciate a bit of light goofiness, involving relatively juvenile characters blundering through an extreme situation you might enjoy. You need a healthy appreciation for jokes involving the anus to get the most out of it.
Duchovny leads it well with a fairly charming performance and displays some nice touches of humour. Fans of 'The X-Files' should have fun.
Jones has most of the best lines and delivers them perfectly. The hospital scene is easily the funniest part of the movie.
Scott feels shoehorned into the story to cash in on his popularity at the time. He has some good manic energy, but for me crosses the line into the realm of annoying.
Moore has little to do other than a few slapstick moments and play an attractive love interest.
The visuals were top drawer at the time of production, but the CGI looks slightly dated on contemporary viewing. It's not bad enough to spoil the experience.
I can't give a really scientific review, because quite frankly I was too busy laughing to weigh out the pros and cons. This is a great popcorn movie! (Metaphorically speaking, I was eating nachos) There are scary moments involving slimy creatures, so chances are if there are any females with you--they will be clinging onto your arms.
Ivan Reitman is the famed director of the "Ghostbusters" movies, and "Evolution" has much of the same charm and quirky sense of style and humor. David Duchovny (who really has a good sense of humor off-camera, but happens to get stuck with mostly serious roles) is terrific in a looser role that enables him to flaunt his knack for comedy. Of course, Orlando Jones is the funniest in the bunch. He has a terrific scene in which a bug crawls inside his skin and doctors have to get it out...rectally. I have to say, that was the highlight of this offbeat comedy and had me on the floor! Julianne Moore plays the clumsy assistant. I can't say I found her role all that humorous. Her pratfalls are pretty lame and predictable. But that minor hint of cheap slapstick didn't ruin the overall experience.
"Evolution" is great fun from start to finish (a very interesting finish with an innovative product placement)! Sure, it's all low-brow, but it works and the crude humor is tamed down to a tolerant level (Well, compared to the average contemporary comedy). This is not a movie to be studied or analyzed or discussed for hours at a time. Just sit back and HAVE SOME FUN!!! Because chances are (considering previous 2001 releases) you won't be having this much fun at the movies in quite a while. I could be wrong, but better to be safe than sorry.
My score: 7 (out of 10)
Sure they weren't logical or realistic, but they were fun in a fantasy sort of sense. I enjoyed the watching the entire alien "ecosystem" evolve.
Fortunately, I'm the kind of person that understands a movie made to be predominantly a comedy doesn't require scientific accuracy, nor should the audience expect it. It was intentionally silly.
One last thing. I thought David Duchovny did a great job playing a character that had a wry, dry sense of humor. He wasn't exactly a straight man, but it was clear to me, he was laughing at the world.
Rating, I gave it 8/10 because it entertained me AND my wife, something many movies can't do.
Did you know
- TriviaInitially written as a serious science-fiction thriller, Ivan Reitman hired David Diamond and David Weissman to re-write the project as a S.O.S. fantômes (1984)-style comedy. The original writer, Don Jakoby, actually enjoyed the changes so much, he continued working on the film alongside the other writers.
- GoofsIn the opening sequence, when Wayne runs from the meteor about to hit the ground, he isn't wearing his fireman's jacket. When he is shown with his back to the camera looking at the explosion, he is wearing a jacket.
- Quotes
[Dr. Paulson is going to pull the alien bug out through Harry's rectum]
Nurse Tate: I'll get the lubricant...
Dr. Paulson: There's no time for lubricant!
Harry Block: There's ALWAYS time for lubricant!
- Crazy creditsThere is an item 'Stunt Primate'
- Alternate versionsIn the courtroom scene, 'Julianne Moore (I)''s character's top pops open, flashing David Duchovny and contributing to her character's inherent clumsiness. This was later cut from the theatrical release, but remnants of its effect can be seen in the courtroom scene. At the beginning of the scene, the top button of her blouse is obviously stretching her blouse, and later we see her clutching her jacket over the open shirt. There is also an allusion to it later in the diner when Orlando Jones comments upon Duchovny's ex pulling off one of his old shirts, saying all the women he's met today have taken off their shirts in front of him.
- SoundtracksBombshell
Written by Michael Tempesta & Michael Cummings
Performed by Powerman 5000
Courtesy of DreamWorks Records
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $80,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $38,345,494
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $13,408,351
- Jun 10, 2001
- Gross worldwide
- $98,376,292
- Runtime
- 1h 41m(101 min)
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1






