The Task: Watch and write about every movie on my shelf, in order (Blu-rays are sorted after DVDs), by June 10, 2015. Remaining movies: 275 Days to go: 267
Movie #102: Evolution
Once again, my shelf produces a movie that’s been otherwise lost to history. Evolution came out in the summer of 2001 to absolutely no fanfare that I can remember, and managed to not be noticeable any time after that either. Honestly, I don’t know how it ever crossed my path. Even weirder, I’m pretty sure this is my husband’s copy; I don’t think I ever owned it. So somehow he also came across this completely obscure, bizarre little movie and brought it into my home. And we both — having seen it separately, before we knew each other — think it’s hilarious. It’s like we’re made for each other.
It is hilarious, by the way. It’s random and odd and super super weird, and it’s just … funny. The funniest thing about it, though, might be the text on the back of the DVD case:
“The maker of Ghostbusters gives you a hilarious look at life on Earth and joins forces with the biggest stars in the universe. David Duchovny (The X-Files), Orlando Jones (The Replacements) Seann William Scott (American Pie) and Academy Award nominee* Julianne Moore (Hannibal) make a discovery of alien lifeforms that could change the world. But, when the aliens try to take over the planet, our four stellar heroes rocket into action to save us. The laughter hits you at the speed of light in the comedy about heavenly bodies, mutual attraction and close encounters.”
THE BIGGEST STARS IN THE UNIVERSE.
BIGGEST. STARS. IN THE UNIVERSE.
IN THE UNIVERSE.
The UNIVERSE. Because we all remember what a huge hit and launching pad The Replacements was for Orlando Jones, after all. And let’s not forget the $30million Seann William Scott makes per every 150 movies or so. Holy shit, that is epically delusional. I mean, even for DVD jacket copy dead-set on space puns. While we’re at it, Hannibal?? That’s the most notable thing Julianne Moore had done by 2001?? How about the thing she was actually nominated for an Academy Award for, Boogie Nights? Or blockbusters like The Lost World: Jurassic Park?? Going for niche cult movies like you hope Evolution might one day be? There’s The Big Lebowski. I mean, seriously. (Intense scrutiny of the case reveals the asterisk after “nominee” refers to a teeny-tiny note at the very bottom that her nominations were actually for Boogie Nights and The End of the Affair, which, again, why not just use those to identify her?)
Anyway, nothing else in that description makes sense either, because the movie doesn’t particularly look at life on Earth, the aliens don’t necessarily “try” to take over the world — they’re just trying to survive, irrespective of humans or the world or anything — and there’s not nearly as much “mutual attraction” as this would have you believe. Unless that’s some kind of science pun on something other than Duchovny’s and Moore’s characters hooking up in the last seconds of the film. I honestly don’t know. The only thing that really seems to fit is pointing out that it’s directed by Ivan Reitman, since in some ways it does feel like an Alien Ghostbuster movie.
All that goofiness aside, however, it’s a fun sci-fi comedy with lots of gags and lots of shocks and Julianne Moore tripping over everything for who knows why (not a complaint — I actually love it when more “serious” actors like Moore appear in the kind of goofy things that I assume make them laugh. Duchovny (though not as high-brow as she is) has done this a few times too. It’s nice.). It also has an incredibly silly resolution and a lot of butt jokes.
Sometimes, you just need butt jokes.
Viable Option 