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Evan Almighty: A Movie Review
By Julie | November 5, 2007
Last week Marc and I rented movies, one of them was Evan Almighty
You see, I saw Bruce Almighty
So, last week when we picked up Evan Almighty I expected another over bearing, selfish, loud main character I’d have to ignore as I watched, because I saw such potential in the concept. What I found in the movie was not what I’d expected.
I loved it.
For me, Evan, played by Steve Carell, was not the over bearing, obnoxious character I thought I’d have to tolerate. He was a man getting his life set up exactly as he wanted it. He was a little full of himself, but partly because he was so excited for where life had taken him, and where he expected to go. Who wouldn’t be excited and a little self-centered if their dreams started coming true? He had just been elected congressman, moved to Washington and planned to change the world.
Then, Evan decided to say a little prayer, mostly an obligatory prayer. But sometimes that’s all it takes for God to show up. And as most Christians learn, sometimes making plans is all you need to do to get God to rearrange your life. Soon, tools and wood started arriving to Evan’s new home. Later, God met Evan face to face to reveal his holy plan: Evan was directed to build an ark. In the middle of a drought. In 2007. Evan did not think it was a good idea, or that it fit into his life. He tried to flee God’s direction. So, God threw obstacles in his path, sometimes in the shape of large animals, and birds who suddenly became attracted to him like a magnet.
Eventually, after a lot of laughing, Evan submits to God and builds his ark. I was struck by Evan’s humbling, as the self centered man whose life had been mapped out, changed everything to accomplish the will of God. For awhile, he believed he lost everything, all for some crazy plan from God. When the ark was complete, Evan stood screaming for others to get in the ark, resolved to carry out the will of God until the end. But God wasn’t falling into Evan’s plans, should he persisted with doubtful determination. Just when Evan begins to think God set him up as a fool, God’s provision comes bursting forward, in a way Evan, and even I, could not have predicted. It reminds us that just because God sends us on a journey, we shouldn’t expect it to turn out the way our preconceived notions dictate. Pretty much, when God’s in control, expect to be surprised.
I don’t want to say more, I don’t want to give away the ending for those who have not seen it.
I’m not sure of the writer’s background, but he had to have some knowledge of faith to write this script. One scene rang so true for me. As Evan was working on the ark reporters and bystanders started to show up to watch, and mock him. Most of the time we see them gathered around, doing nothing to help, as they criticized and watched Evan work. (Isn’t that the way it always goes? The person who believes in a dream enough to actually work for is mocked, and told it will never happen by the people with no initiative, or desire to work on their own dreams.) One reporter asks Evan, “Why did God choose you?”
With a humble, slight smile, Evan replies. “He chose all of us.”
Indeed He did.
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