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A film review by
Gareth
Von Kallenbach @ KGHP FM.
Charles
Darwin once published a very controversial series of
essays titled "On the Origin of Species". The
works was based on his studies of nature in the Galapagos
Islands and formed the basis for the modern study of
evolution and species.
In 20001 Director Ivan Reitman, who brought such
Blockbusters as "Ghostbusters" and "Twins"
to the silver screen gives us a look at evolution on a
cosmic basis and how the rules on Earth may not apply
elsewhere in the universe in his new film "Evolution"
The films star David Duchovny of the X-Files as Ira Kane
a once prominent government scientist who has fallen from
grace and ends up teaching at a small community college
in Arizona. Ira is making the best of his situation and
spends his days dispensing knowledge while grading with a
very liberal grading curve to the delight of his students.
Ira's day takes a slight detour when his fellow teacher,
and college Womans Volleyball coach, Harry Block (Orlando
Jones of Mad TV) tells his that he has been assigned to
check out a meteor that has crashed nearby, and that he
would like Ira to come along.
Before long, Ira and Harry discover that the meteor is
something out of the ordinary, as it contains alien
microbes that evolve at a rapid pace. With visions of
fame and fortune in their heads, the two conduct their
studies in secret, less they have to share their Noble
Prize.
Before viewers know it, The Military gets wind of the
site and steps in to take control of the situation.
Matters are complicated for Ira and Harry when the
General in charge of the site, General Woodman,(Ted
Levine) is a former colleague of Ira's who remembers all
to well Ira fell from grace.
Heading the research team is Allison Reed (Julianne Moore)a
klutzy yet brilliant scientist who sees the meteor as the
find of a lifetime. It does not take long for the
Government to be in way over their heads, as the microbes
evolve at a rapid pace and soon, nasty lifeforms are
starting to sprout up all over town, at a pace that will
have the new lifeforms in control of the entire country
in just two months.
Not content to let the Aliens take the planet, General
Woodman, and the Governor (Dan Aykroyd) decide to blow
them all sky high, despite Ira's warning that the heat in
the explosions will only make the life forms grow even
faster.
With the destruction of humanity evident, it is up to
Ira, Harry, Allison, and a vapid fireman hopeful, Wayne
Green (Sean William Scott to save the day.
The film does have its funny moments, but there are some
big lags between the jokes, and the characters never seem
to gel. Duchovny and Jones work well with one another,
but Moore seems to be there to only be the love interest
as her character provides little to the film. Scott also
suffers the same fate as Wayne is little more than comic
relief and onboard to play the loser, who is the wrong
guy in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
I would have liked to have seen a bit more story to the
film as despite the rapid evolution of the creatures, we
did not see much menace from them, unless you count mall
shoppers being buzzed by a flying lifeform, menace terror.
It seems that Reitman was trying to do a homage to the
old Alien invasion flicks of the 50's but those films
always had images of the mass destruction and terror
caused by the creatures and this film had little of that.
I discovered that the film was planned to be a serious
film but had the tone lightened significantly when
Reitman came on board. what could have been a comedy/sci-fi
classic, quickly becomes an exercise in waiting for the
jokes in between special effects that are not so special.
If "Evolution" is any indication of the films
being offered to David Duchovny, then perhaps he might
want to rethink his decision to leave the X-Files less he
becomes the next David Caruso.
One can only hope that Darwin was right about only the
strong surviving, and that "Evolution" will
wither on the vine, as the film is disaster, that is
badly in need of evolving a better story, dialogue, and
more substantial parts for the very talented cast
2.5 stars out of 5
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