Evan Almighty parents guide

Evan Almighty Parent Guide

Overall A-

The pressures of his new job seem to be getting to Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) because the recently elected congressman is convinced God (Morgan Freeman) has appeared to him and commanded him to build an ark. While he begins preparing for doomsday, everyone else floods him with protests.

Release date June 21, 2007

Violence B
Sexual Content B+
Profanity B+
Substance Use A

Why is Evan Almighty rated PG? The MPAA rated Evan Almighty PG for mild rude humor and some peril

Run Time: 96 minutes

Parent Movie Review

As a newly elected Congressman, Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) is ready to “change the world.” But fulfilling his campaign promise is more difficult than he expected, especially after his political plans are sidelined by God (Morgan Freeman) asking him to take time off work and build an ark.

Initially determined to carry on with his own life plans, Evan, a meticulously groomed man with an aversion to animals, balks at the command. He tries to ignore the hordes of critters gathering outside his workplace and home, while assuring his office assistants (Wanda Sykes, John Michael Higgins, Jonah Hill) that everything’s okay. He even attempts to give away the piles of lumber that are mysteriously delivered to his address. But when his whiskers grow back as quickly as he shaves them off, Evan has to admit something is up.

However, his wife, Joan (Lauren Graham), and their three sons Dylan (Johnny Simmons), Jordan (Graham Phillips) and Ryan (Jimmy Bennett) aren’t so sure. They fear the shaggy facial hair and antediluvian robes are the result of a midlife crisis sparked by the stress of his new position and a recent move, rather than revelation. Only after some spiritual enlightenment of her own does Joan see the bigger picture and realize prayers are answered with opportunities. In this case, it’s the chance to reconnect their fragmented relationships.

Like Bruce Almighty (in which the Supreme Being temporarily hands over his powers to a human), those familiar with the biblical story of Noah might find this modern retelling full of corrupt government officials (John Goodman) and badgering neighbors to be a bit irreverent. Yet despite Carell’s corny interpretation of the frustrated patriarch, his character learns to exercise faith in a patient and caring Omnipotent Sovereign even when blue skies fail to produce a hint of rain.

With expanding filming fees and actual animals for costars, Evan Almighty may have tested the faith (and patience) of the movie’s producers as well. Still, while religious figures can be risky to portray, particularly in a comedic fashion, this creature-filled adventure comes with a boatload of funny lines and moral gems about trust, faith, commitment and family bonds. Revealing the simple methods by which great things can be accomplished, it offers some family friendly entertainment that isn’t flooded with content concerns.

Directed by Tom Shadyac. Starring Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman. Running time: 96 minutes. Theatrical release June 21, 2007. Updated

Evan Almighty
Rating & Content Info

Why is Evan Almighty rated PG? Evan Almighty is rated PG by the MPAA for mild rude humor and some peril

While terms of Deity are used most often in reference to Divinity, some profane usages are included along with mild sexual innuendo. During the building of the ark, Evan suffers multiple construction-related injuries. Defecating birds and spitting alpacas are portrayed for comedy. Other jokes involve the discussion of a male animal’s anatomy, a dog that repeatedly attacks a man’s groin area and Evan’s naked appearance in public (no nudity is seen).

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Evan Almighty Parents' Guide

Although Evan’s life ambition is to change the world, why is he hesitant to accept the job of building an ark? What does Joan learn about the way prayers are answered?

What sacrifices does the Baxter family make for their father’s career? What impact does the ark have on them? How would you respond to such an odd request?

What are some of the film’s inconsistencies? Why are animals like elephants and zebras included? You may also want to compare the movie script with the account of Noah, found in the book of Genesis in the Bible.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Evan Almighty movie is August 6, 2012. Here are some details…

Blu-ray Notes:Evan Almighty

Release Date: 7 August 2012

Evan Almighty releases to home video on blu-ray.

DVD Notes:Evan Almighty

Release Date: 9 October 2007

Evan Almighty comes to DVD with a boatload of special features. Take a peek behind the scenes at The Ark-itects of Noah’s Ark, Becoming Noah, Steve Carell Unscripted, Animals on Set Two by Two, Acts of Random Kindness, A Flood of Visual Effects, Casting Call: Serengeti, The Almighty Forest, The Almighty Green Set, and It’s Easy Being Green. The disc also wrangles some outtakes and deleted scenes, as well as an interactive Animal Roundup Game. Audio tracks are available in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English, Spanish), DVS Dolby Digital 2.0 (English) and Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 (French), with subtitles in English (SDH), French and Spanish.

Related home video titles:

Jonah’s biblical encounter with a whale is retold using a variety of garden vegetables in the children’s film Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie. Another animated movie tells the Old Testament story of Moses in Prince of Egypt. The same character cemented Charlton Heston’s acting career when he portrayed the Hebrew prophet in The Ten Commandments.