Evan Almighty

Since Mel Gibson gave us The Passion of the Christ in 2004 the film world has realised two things. One, Christians want to see films that affirm their worldview. Two, there is a lot of money to be made from such films. The Passion grossed US$370million in the USA alone and was widely embraced in many Christian communities worldwide.

Since then, biographical films like Luther and Amazing Grace have been released aiming to reach that same Christian market. While the Christians who have seen them have positively received such films, they have only reached a fraction of the audience of The Passion. The problem has been that these Christian biographies have not had the widespread appeal to both Christian and non-Christian audiences. They have essentially been ‘insider’ films. This is why Evan Almighty is such a strategic film.

Evan Almighty is the sequel to the 2003 hit Bruce Almighty. In Bruce Almighty news weatherman Bruce (Jim Carrey), who complains about God too often, is given omnipotent powers by the Almighty (played by Morgan Freeman) to teach him how difficult it is to run the world. At the superficial level the film contained a lot of Carrey’s wacky antics and some occasional crude humour, but Bruce Almighty was a refreshingly thoughtful take on an interventionist God who cares deeply about even the smallest details of each of our lives. It’s about the God who humbles an arrogant man into trusting in his creator.

Director Tom Shadyac has returned to direct the sequel and has infused his professed Christian faith into every part of the film’s plot. As Christianity Today reports, “Shadyac hopes this sequel delivers a message – that God not only loves us, but wants us to share that love with others and make a difference in the world”. Shadyac himself says, “Someone asked me the other day, ‘What’s the biggest influence on your filmmaking career?’ And they started naming filmmakers. I went, ‘Naw, it’s Jesus actually’.”

In Evan Almighty, Steve Carell (The 40 Year Old Virgin, The Office) plays a congressman forced to take on the role of a modern-day Noah. He reprises his role as the tongue-tied newscaster, Evan, from Bruce Almighty who has risen to public office. Evan’s campaign slogan is ‘Change the World’. However, Evan drives a gas-guzzling SUV and spends more time trimming his nose hair than guiding his three sons. As Evan prepares for his first day on the job, the casually spiritual politician heeds the advice of his wife and offers a prayer to God to help him in delivering on his slogan.

When Evan is asked to co-sponsor a high-profile bill by one of the most powerful congressmen in Virginia, he thinks all his prayers have been answered. However, the vast amounts of paperwork leads to Evan neglecting his family further. When God tells Evan that the way he will change the world is by building an ark, Evan runs. Like the prophet Jonah, Evan does all he can to get away from God. He ignores God’s signs, including constantly repeated Bible verses, the planks of wood delivered to his house anonymously each morning and the many animals that follow every step he takes.

After several personal encounters with God, Evan gives into the reality of the situation. Once Evan commits to building the ark, the path of obedience to God requires him to risk his family, his career and his perceived sanity.

Evan Almighty shows that faithfulness to God means standing out regardless of ridicule. Evan wears the clothing God requires him to and the beard that God causes to grow (giving new meaning to 1 Cor 3). The beauty is the film delivers on so much of what it means to be a believer. Evan’s stand loses him the respect of his political peers and aides, turns him into an object of derision for neighbours and news reporters, and causes his wife, Joan (of ark), to depart with the children – leaving Evan to stay faithful to God on his own.

That the filmmakers have Evan stay faithful to God, forsaking family, career and public perception is an impressive part of the film’s narrative. It’s reminiscent of Jesus’ call to his followers in Luke 14: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple”.

Of course, by staying faithful to God, Evan more effectively loves himself, his family and his community. The construction of the ark brings about an earthly salvation for Evan and those around him; his Act of Random Kindness (ARK) ends up blessing the very people who despised him. And, of course, through the ordeal Evan’s family is brought closer together.

The God character in Evan Almighty is a good, if incomplete, reflection of the character of God. When Evan questions God for sending a flood, God replies, “Whatever I do, I do because I love you”. The film also teaches that God can use suffering to build up his people. After Joan has taken the kids away, a disguised Freeman approaches her in a diner as she eats her meal. Earlier in the film, Joan prays to God asking him to bring her family closer together. Freeman asks her, “If someone prayed for their family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?”

The film’s one shortcoming is that God’s ultimate goal appears to be the establishment of a heaven on earth – characterised by our love for all aspects of his creation, human and otherwise. The Bible certainly teaches that we are to love one another (John 13) and be good stewards of creation (Gen 2). However, the overarching narrative of the Bible is that God is bringing all things in creation under his feet and he is to be loved first and foremost. It is only through loving and obeying God and trusting in Jesus that will we truly love others best. 

Click here to comment on this article for the next edition of Southern Cross

Latest articles in watching
- The Wager - 2 weeks, 3 days ago
- Packed to the Rafters - 3 weeks, 3 days ago
- Burn After Reading - 1 month ago