I was never a huge fan of 'The X Files', and I was not surprised when main star David Duchovny announced he was leaving the show to pursue other avenues, and also to avoid being typecast. So what does he go an do? He plays a man in pursuit of extra terrestrial beings, which is hardly a chance of direction now is it? I think he felt that this would be a return to safe ground after films such as 'Return To Me' were greeted less than enthusiastically.
The story is pretty run of the mill. A meteor containing organisms which ooze an unpleasant looking goo, crash lands on Earth, or more precisely, the Arizona desert. The organisms have the ability to evolve amazingly quickly (hence the film title), and they turn into plant life to adapt to the environment around them, and then into the expected alien type scary creatures that I have come to expect from films of this kind. These creatures grow so quickly, and are so aggressive, that they threaten our existence on Earth as we know it, so a group of foolish scientists go into the cave where the creatures are living to investigate the happenings.
Duchovny is Ira Kane, a college professor. He is joined by Harry Block, a scientist, played by the extremely scatty Orlando Jones. When the stories of their discovery are circulated, the group are joined by Alison Reed, played by Julianne Moore, who works for The Centre Of Disease Control, and who feels that she should lead the investigation, but when she gets her way and starts to involve the Government things start to go wrong big time, and whole investigation becomes a total calamity when Seann William Scott playing oddball (so what's new there?) wannabe fireman Wayne Green joins the team, as he was the one who initially discovered the crash site.
For a man who does not want to be typecast, Duchovny has made a strange choice with this film, and at times the comparisons with Fox Mulder were inevitable. I am still to be convinced that he has the ability to carry a film on his own, and I think he is saved by the appearance of Moore, who I am surprised even considered this role considering her immense talent. The rest of the cast do well with the material they are given, but I was not surprised when the Oscar's committe overlooked the film and the performances in it!! Special Effects in the film are pretty good, but then they need to be to make a film such as this watchable.
'Evolution' was a film that I really did not want to or think that I would enjoy. I dislike films where the main themes are aliens, UFO's or anything extra terrestrial, but 'Evolution' was different. Admittedly, all of the themes I dislike are present, but they are coupled with some very sharp and witty humour, which I am sure is down to the director Ivan Reitman, who was the man behind the hugely successful 'Ghostbusters'. It does have a feel of 'Men In Black' about it too, but I think that is more to do with the subject matter than the performances, because at times, the humour in this crosses the line from a touch crude into plain bad taste. It is not brilliant, but it is extremely watchable, and much more entertaining than I expected it to be, but the good guys always win plot is starting to wear a little thin.
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I agree, not great but very watchable... thought the bug in the suit was funny :)
OKkaraoke 16.12.2003 02:42
I don't think I've ever seen Duchovny show any emotion in a role.
CarolB 15.12.2003 17:26
I laughed a lot at this film. It was so tongue in cheek that I can't really compare it to the X files which is oh so serious. I thought David acted the part well, and has a flair for comedy. The idea of using Head and Shoulders to get rid of the aliens was funny! Carol
Based on the evidence inEvolution, one thing is perfectly clear: special effects have ... more
evolved, but director Ivan Reitman has reverted to primitive pandering. Equally obvious is the fact thatEvolutionis a defacto rip-off of Reitman's 1984 classicGhostbu...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
The director of Ghostbusters takes you on an evolutionary roller coaster ride with big ... more
laughs and even bigger special effects in EVOLUTION. Starring David Duchovny (The X Files, Return To Me), Orlando Jones (Say It Isn't So, Bedazzled), Sean William Sc...
Glen Canyon Arizona the present day. The impact of a meteorite changes the life of ... more
biology teacher Dr. Ira Kane and geology teacher Harry Block from Glen Canyon Community College when he manages to take a sample. Soon he discovers a slimy blue fluid...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: Funny, v.good CGI, strong cast and well written. Disadvantages: Lends to other films by same director a couple of times and a couple of filler moments.
dogburster 25.06.2001 (28.06.2001)
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Review of Evolution (DVD)
![Evolution [DVD] [2001]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78533647.jpg "Evolution [DVD] [2001]")
Dec 10th, 2003
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