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Evolution (2001)
Front Cover Actor Back Cover
David Duchovny Dr. Ira Kane
Julianne Moore Dr. Allison Reed, CDC
Orlando Jones Prof. Harry Phineas Block
Dan Aykroyd Gov. Lewis
Michael Bower Danny
Ty Burrell Col. Flemming
Pat Kilbane Officer Sam Johnson
Ted Levine Brig. Gen. Russell Woodman
Ethan Suplee Deke
Seann William Scott Wayne Grey
Movie Details
Genre Comedy; Science Fiction
Director Ivan Reitman
Producer Ivan Reitman; Daniel Goldberg; Jeff Apple; Paul Deason
Writer Don Jakoby; David Diamond
Photography Michael Chapman
Musician John Powell; Curt Sobel; Matt Mahaffey
Studio Dreamworks
Language English
Audience Rating PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Running Time 101 mins
Country USA
Color Color
IMDb Rating 5.8
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 324
Collection Status In Collection
Links Amazon US
Evolution at Movie Collector Connect
IMDB
Amazon US
Product Details
Edition Special Edition
Format DVD
Region Region 1
Screen Ratio Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1)
Layers Single Side, Dual Layer
UPC (Barcode) 667068892321
Release Date 8/24/2004
Subtitles English; French; Spanish; English (Closed Captioned)
Packaging Keep Case
Audio Tracks Dolby Digital 5.1 [English]
Dolby Digital 5.1 [French]
Dolby Digital 5.1 [Spanish]
DTS 5.1 [English]
Dolby Digital Surround [English]
Nr of Disks/Tapes 1
Extra Features
Color Closed-captioned DTS Surround Sound Widescreen Dolby