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Trailer Stash
The new trailer for Evan Almighty deconstructed.
By Sara Brady
Icon by Lisa Martin
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This week I'm talking about comedy. Specifically, the hilarious reaction GE's shareholders are going to have to Universal's Evan Almighty, the most expensive comedy (maybe) ever. After watching this teaser for the film, I'm thinking the shareholder reaction may involve screaming for the head of studio chief Ron Meyer. In the interest of full disclosure and y'all knowing where I stand, I should mention that I hated Bruce Almighty with an ungodly passion, mainly because I'm exhausted by Jim Carrey's megalomania (more on that later).
The trailer open on a blue sky dotted with clouds, and an avuncular voice saying, "Throughout history, the Almighty has appeared unto a very few." Titles on the screen list Moses, Abraham, Joan of Arc, and Bruce as some of those few, but I think the Almighty might quibble with that order. As would several million Muslims. "Next summer," the voice continues, "He will choose a new prophet to bring his message to the world."
Cut to the scene from Bruce Almighty when Bruce makes Steve Carell blather nonsense during the news. Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" begins to play under the scene (which is a little odd, given the song's dependence on the lyrical structure of "I got a friend in Jesus" and Bruce Almighty's stringent avoidance of the "Christian" part of "Judeo-Christian religion," but if I get into that we'll be here all freaking day) as we jump to Steve piloting his Hummer homeward.
The announcer continues, "But God only knows why He chose Evan." We cut to inside the Hummer. Morgan Freeman is sitting in the backseat, smiling beatifically. That freaks Steve out a little, as it would probably do to anyone if Morgan Freeman were suddenly sitting in your backseat. It's like the beginning of Urban Legend, only with freckles instead of beheading.
Steve and Morgan go through the whole "Who are you?" "I'm God" shtick that really, just never gets old, regardless of how game the actors are. "I want you, Evan Baxter, to build an ark," Morgan says. We see Steve opening a big box of rustic tools, and what a rip-off it is that God hasn't made a deal for some nice cordless hand saws or something. Steve gets backed into a corner by a whole bunch of animals going two-by-two and I foresee a wealth of poo jokes in this movie's future.
And then Steve is in his office, which is being overrun by twos of every bird and he is on the floor screaming. Gotta give it to Steve, he gives good faceplant. We see a delegation headed by John Goodman, John Michael Higgins, and John Corbett's dad from My Big Fat Greek Wedding (whose name, I learn, is Bruce Gray) walk in. They all seem rather nonplussed to find Steve covered with birds like he just escaped from a dinner theater production of Mary Poppins.
Steve soon begins experiencing that rare condition known as "Tim Allen face"-apparently, being chosen to be the new Noah (or Santa Claus) makes your beard grow like crazy. Wanda Sykes asks, "Are you starting a Bee Gees tribute band?" Wanda, is that supposed to be funny, or did the writers get a pass on humor that day because they figured you could just "say it sassy" and everyone would keel over? "You've gotta go shave," Higgins minces, and Steve protests, "I can't shave! Whenever I shave, the beard grows right back in!" That kind of "one more time, for the cheap seats" junk is really only the privilege of Nathan Lane.
The trailer closes on a shot of Steve, in full white-beard-and-robes Noah regalia, having his morning coffee with two apes who seem to be enjoying their java as well. I reflect on the last two minutes of poorly written jokes, barely redeemed by good delivery (in most cases) and hope that the finished movie is funnier than this. Or at least has more monkeys.
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