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"Evolution" had everything going for it: the right director (Ivan Reitman of the "Ghostbusters" series), the right screenplay (a clever mix of comedy and science fiction as Reitman established in the aforementioned series), a good mix of "right names" (David Duchovny, Orlando Jones, Julianne Moore and the sadly-under-exposed Dan Akroyd) and a budget designed to deliver quality special effects and sets without exposing the investors to bankruptcy. So what went wrong? Mind you, this is a good film, a very good film, one I plan to watch again and again when it makes the inevitable appearances on cable and network TV. And now that you can find this gem in certain retail outlets for as little as $5 (I've bought a backup copy) it shouldn't be passed up. It entertains, there are good laughs, and some good romantic foreplay between Moore and Duchovny reminiscent of Tracy/Hepburn. I'm not going to discuss the plot, it's a little silly but it's also very well-thought out in places, and it work better on-screen than in print. It's also available elsewhere if you really need to know that. Jones and Duchovny do have real chemistry; Duchovny comes off more Buster Keaton-ish) as the deadpanning scientist (hello, we know you're smart and witty but could you try to act more human like the rest of us?) and Jones (IMHO he succeeded in transcending his "Mad-TV" troupe-player status and deserves more leading comedy roles, he is his own work-in-the-making as evident in "The Time Machine" role as supercomputer-with-attitude a few years back) makes the blend of slapstick and hip-slick-sidekick work. Moore, to my surprise, is smart-and-funny-and-sexy (if only we could see Moore and Jones work together again, wish) and her take on slapstick doesn't take away from her character but enhances it. Ackroyd (the "take charge" Govenor of Nevada who has "evolved" from his "Ghostbusters" performances and borrows a little of Bill Murray's fanaticism and presence in the bargain) doesn't have enough screen time; he could've saved this film from bargain-DVD oblivion if he were given another 20 minutes to expand his character. The difference between storyline, screenplay and performance is worth noting here. The storyline works, because Reitman knows his sci-fi and comedy and has succeeded in blending both well. The screenplay, however, hits and misses; some more time should've been spent studying the interaction of the lead characters as well as their time onscreen. (I think the aforementioned Mr. Murray should have replaced Duchovny in this role, obvious as it may seem to us, simply because Murray knows (like Akroyd) how to IMPROVISE and expand on a character) The performance is there, nobody really "phoned in" a performance, but the film is too smart for its own good. Unlike too many other comedies, it could've benefitted if the test audiences had IQs closer to the human norm. Summary: this film has the right parts, but the chemistry isn't all there (unlike the constantly-evolving super-species) and in the end, the audience is smart enough to sense that. And it's sad, because this IS a good film, but it could've been better if the actors were allowed to breathe a little.Read full review
David Duchovny, Orlando Jones, and Julianne Moore star in this offbeat comedy about an alien invasion. When an astroid crashed into a cavern on the outskirts of a small town in Arizona, two teachers from the local college join forces to investigate. The full cast includes: Dan Aykroyd, David Duchovny, Julianne Moore, Orlando Jones, Richard Moll, Sarah Silverman, Seann William Scott, Ted Levine, Ty Burrell. Directed by Ivan Reitman who also directed Ghostbusters this movie employs many of the same type of slapstick comedy, quick comebacks and a lot of gag action. There are a couple of very funny scenes in this one and anyone who loves a good laugh will enjoy this movie. Rated 4 of 5 for some good laughs.
starring David Duchovny, Orlando Jones, and Julianne Moore. When a meteor crashes into the Arizona desert, local community college professors Ira Kane (Duchovny) and Harry Block (Jones) are shocked to discover that it has introduced rapidly evolving aliens to Earth. Although the professors try to keep their discovery a secret, the U.S. military takes over the investigation, sealing off the fantastic creatures and the environment that the aliens have established. But when aliens start popping up on nearby golf courses and in the local mall, it's up to Kane and Block to save the world. With a little help from Allison Reed (Julianne Moore), a clumsy scientist with the Center for Disease Control, and Wayne Green (Seann William Scott), a dim-witted country club pool manager and fireman-wannabe, the two professors devise a plan using an unlikely weapon to kill the alien population before it wipes out the human race. Fittingly, former Ghostbuster Dan Aykroyd appears as the governor of Arizona.Read full review
First time couldn’t keep up, lots of questions. Watching again helped to understand more of what’s happening
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Quirky, sci-fi, meteor-hits-Earth--weird stuff starts happening film. Fun, silly and full of x-files Easter eggs.David Ducovney is spot-on, dead-pan hilarity. Orlando Jones? AMAZING PERFORMANCES! Julianne Moore is unstoppable physical comedy that sews her character tightly together. This is one of my top-ten-of-all-time movies, if it isn't one of yours, time to check it out.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned