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BY CHRISTOPHER J. TROILO
UMConnection Movie Reviewer

It is a rare occurrence that a movie can simultaneously entertain, educate and enlighten all in one sitting. 'Evan Almighty' does all of those things, but not only that, it does them exceptionally well.

Maybe you?ve seen the previews, or read some synopses, and already while you?re reading this, you?re thinking, 'Really? The sequel to ?Bruce Almighty? with the guy from ?The Office? (Steve Carell) who suddenly becomes Noah is actually good?'

No, it?s not good, it?s great.

The story is fairly basic. Evan Baxter is a newly elected U.S. Congressman, having won on the campaign idea that he will change the world. He moves his family to an upscale Virginia suburban development, buys himself a brand new Hummer and begins to throw himself into his work. Baxter soon finds that his first act as a congressman is to help support a bill which calls for the razing of land in National Parks to make way for new construction. God decides differently and gives Evan a new calling -- build an ark; a flood is coming.

To call 'Evan Almighty' a sequel to Jim Carrey?s 'Bruce Almighty,' is very misleading. The two have almost nothing in common, except Steve Carell and Morgan Freeman reprising their roles as Evan and God respectively. 'Evan?s' tone and audience is far more directed to the family, and is actually funnier than the original, with many moments and sequences that will have both kids and adults laughing out loud.

You could write pages upon pages about how exceptional Carell and Freeman are in their performances. Carell, who somehow seems to create a truly deep and unique character in every different movie he?s in, provides a wonderful sense of realism to the movie. You watch his character literally evolve throughout the movie, as we watch Baxter grow as a person.

The best part is that he isn?t really a bad guy who needs to be reformed. If anything, he?s portrayed as a very typical person. His intentions are good, but he allows ignorance, laziness or other distractions to keep him from being the best person he can be. He?s extremely easy to identify with, and that?s what allows you to partake in the fantasy happening around him.

I would have to imagine that of all the roles an actor could choose, playing God would probably be one of the tougher ones. While I can think of several actors who have taken on the incarnation of Jesus (at least he was human), only a handful come to mind to play the role of God.

That list includes both George Burns and Alanis Morrisette, so it?s safe to say there?s a broad spectrum on interpretation in Hollywood. Now we have Morgan Freeman, and I personally think it may be the best representation yet.

Freeman?s God is that of happy love, pure and simple. In 'Evan Almighty,' we truly get the idea that humanity was created in God?s image, and so we see a concerned God, a philosophical God and a God who dances and laughs uncontrollably. I would like to think that regardless of religious background, it?s the way most of us would like to imagine God to be. It?s a wonderful performance and definitely a highlight of the movie.

The theology and message of 'Evan Almighty' is also bound to spark some great discussion, especially in a youth group setting.

The main ideas are quite universal, primarily dealing with love, family and preservation of the environment. For example, in one scene, God poses the question, 'When you pray to God for patience, does he simply strike you with patience or give you the opportunity to be patient?' There are several concepts like this one which allow for some deep reflection.

Yes, 'Evan Almighty' is silly, but that was the movie?s goal. You can tell the cast and crew truly enjoyed themselves while making this, because they understood that if you just accept this fantasy, entertainment just flows with it. This is a great film for families this summer, and I highly recommend you check it out.

8.5 out of 10