Monster Movie of the Week: Evolution (2001)

EVOLUTION (2001)

Director: Ivan Reitman

Genre: Science Fiction/Comedy

Country: USA

THE MOVIE

Evolution started its life out as a serious sci-fi/horror film about a hyper-evolutionary, extraterrestrial eco system that invades earth. When director Ivan Reitman took it over he rewrote the script and made it into a sci-fi comedy much in the vein of his earlier Ghostbusters. Like his earlier hit, Evolution is centered on a group of smart misfits lead by a laconic slacker who are tasked with a huge pseudo-scientific problem. Dan Ackroyd even has a cameo towards the end of the movie.

While the special effects and science fiction aspects of the movie are well-executed (it is actually a pretty cool concept which makes me wonder what the original straight version of the movie might have been like), the comedy elements don’t come together so well. This might have something to do with the weak script or the shtick of the incredibly unfunny Orlando Jones (he’s a funny guy but he’s workin’ his Eddie Murphy act way too hard in this movie) or the frequently annoying Sean William Scott. The leads, David Duchovny and Julianne Moore work out a little better. The movie seems to be fighting a loosing battle between a very droll and smart sense of humor and jokes about bodily functions.

THE MONSTERS/EFFECTS

Evolution’s saving grace is the quality and variety of its creature effects, which run the gamut from microorganisms to a goofy/ terrifying amphibian to a towering blob monster. The best one is probably the winged velociraptor-like creature that rampages through a mall. Also interesting are the blue-furred ape-like animals that represent the highest shown level of alien evolution. Apes are great subjects for monsters because they are so like us anatomically and when we see an ape that is fundamentally wrong it strikes a disturbing chord with us.

HOME VIDEO AVAILABILITY

Widely available on DVD. Has some deleted scenes, including an unfunny alternate ending.

MOST MEMORABLE SEQUENCE

The flier’s attack on the shopping mall.

SEQUELS

None.

SEE ALSO

Ghostbusters (1984)

TRAILER

Patrick Garone
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