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Evolution (2002)
Front Cover Actor Back Cover
Roger Brierley Charles Lyell
Anthony Carrick Bishop Samuel Wilberforce
Jane Cunliffe Emma Darwin
Manon Eames Nurse Brodie
Will Fawcett John Gould
Cornelius Garrett Gentleman 2
Andrew Heath Gentleman 1
Andy Henderson T. H. Huxley
Chris Larkin Charles Darwin (as Christopher Larkin)
Joshua Losey Gamekeeper
David Duchovny
Julianne Moore
Orlando Jones
Seann William Scott
Ted Levine
Movie Details
Director Ivan Reitman
Producer Dan Goldberg; Joe Medjuck
Writer David Diamond; Don Jakoby
Studio Universal Studios
Language English
Audience Rating PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Running Time 102 mins
Country USA
Color Color
IMDb Rating 7.6
Plot
Based on the evidence in Evolution, one thing is perfectly clear: special effects have evolved, but director Ivan Reitman has reverted to primitive pandering. Equally obvious is the fact that Evolution is a de facto rip-off of Reitman's 1984 classic Ghostbusters, but this time there's no Bill Murray to deliver the best punch lines (we have to settle for fellow ghostbuster Dan Aykroyd in a broad supporting role), and the comedy has devolved into a grossfest including deep-rectal extraction of alien insects, fire-hose enemas into a giant alien sphincter, and a full-moon display of David Duchovny's naked posterior. Whereas Ghostbusters was a shrewd, irreverent mainstream comedy that combined gooey spectral ectoplasm with something resembling genuine wit, Evolution is a crude, juvenile romp in which all things slimy are elevated to comedic supremacy.

Granted, that's not always a bad thing. As latter-day ghostbuster equivalents, Duchovny, Orlando Jones, and Seann William Scott make a fine comedic trio, and Julianne Moore is equally amusing as a clumsy scientist and Duchovny's obligatory love interest. Despite the meddling of clueless military buffoons, they join forces to eradicate a wild variety of rapidly evolving alien creatures that arrived on Earth via meteor impact, and the extraterrestrial beasties (courtesy of effects wizard Phil Tippet and crew) are outrageously designed and marvelously convincing. For anyone who prefers lowbrow humor, Evolution will prove as entertaining as Ghostbusters (or at least Galaxy Quest), while others may lament Reitman's shameless embrace of crudeness. One thing's for certain: after seeing this movie, you'll gain a whole new appreciation for Head & Shoulders shampoo. --Jeff Shannon

Personal Details
Seen It Yes
Index 202
Collection Status In Collection
Links IMDB
Amazon US
DVD Empire
Product Details
Format DVD
Region Region 1
Screen Ratio Widescreen 1.85:1 Color (Anamorphic)
Layers Single Side, Dual Layer
UPC (Barcode) 667068892321
Chapters 22
Release Date 24/08/2004
Subtitles English; French
Packaging Keep Case
Audio Tracks ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1 [CC]
ENGLISH: Dolby Digital Surround [CC]
ENGLISH: DTS 5.1 [CC]
FRENCH: Dolby Digital 5.1
Nr of Disks/Tapes 1
Extra Features
Color Closed-captioned DTS Surround Sound Widescreen Dolby