by Jason Daniel Baker

Created on: June 07, 2008

Evan Almighty (2007) Starring Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham, John Goodman, John Michael Higgins, Bruce Gray, Dean Norris, Jimmy Bennett, Wanda Sykes, Jonah Hill, Molly Shannon, Graham Phillips, Johnny Simmons, Ed Helms, Rachael Harris, Harve Presnell, Madison Mason, Paul Collins, Jim Doughan, Meagen Fay, Dean Norris, Catherine Bell, Casey Strand, Jesse Burch, David Barrera, Wayne Wilderson, Scott Rollins, Derald Downey, Matt Price, Simon Helberg, Bridget Ann White, Brendan Connor, Donzella Berry.

Directed by Tom Shadyac.

Running time: 96 minutes.

Rating: PG

"We'll get to the questions later. Are you with us?"

Former Buffalo news anchor turned New York congressman Evan Baxter (Carell) longs for more meaningful change than he can get done with mere constituency work and committee hearings. Yet this is a man who won't even drive a fuel-efficient car. With three kids we also see he is not part of Zero Population Growth either. God (Freeman) hears Evan musing his mantra for change aloud and perhaps struck by the hypocrisy, decides to coerce Evan into building an ark with numerous threats.

Evan tries his best to ignore the situation but different species of animals flock toward him in twos beating a path to his door faster than the special interests or just plain wackos that politicians normally attract. In the midst of attaching his name to a controversial bill he has a zoo going on in his office unrelated to statecraft, voting blocs or piecemeal appeasement of the coalition that brought him in to office.

Then God decides for no discernible reason to make Evan look like a cross between John Walker Lindh and Wolfman Jack by impeding his ability to shave. It sabotages his career because of course the only place where a beard indicates political gravitas or acumen is the Middle East.

Take a look at North American or British leaders over the past 50 or even 60 years. See any beards? You probably don't notice many mustaches either. Nixon even got burned for occasionally having minute razor stubble. Early on Evan himself has the modern politician's obsession with grooming right down to trimming his nose hair. You would not believe how many real politicians have a similar obsession. Canada has not had a bearded prime minister since 1896. We have not even had a mustached prime minister since 1920.

Freeman, a Hollywood actor generally identified with wisdom and authority by film audiences is well cast here reprising his role from (2003). They also could have gotten

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