Evolution, brings to the screen the story of two Arizona Community College professors, a biologist and a geologist, who stumble across a meteorite that has crashed on earth. Things get a bit more complicated once they realize that the meteorite is inhabited...
Evolution is a funny movie, guaranteed to provide more than a just a few laughs. The casting is excellent, and the story is very well written and very well presented.
David Duchovny, Orlando Jones, Seann William Scott, Julianne Moore, Dan Aykroyd, and the rest of the cast have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are exceptional to say the least! All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100%! Their great talent and chemistry clearly shows, thus providing an entertaining film that can be watched over and over again.
Overall, it is a film definitely worth watching, and even though quite silly at times, it will surely put you in a good mood!

"Evolution", the latest film from director Ivan Reitman, has a handful of funny lines, but ultimately the film should be called "Regression".

Wayne Green (Seann William Scott), a wannabe fireman, is out in the Arizona desert, practicing for his big exam. Just as he sets a little shack on fire, a meteor hits. Harry Block (Orlando Jones, still best known as the '7-Up Guy' despite a handful of feature film roles), the community college geology professor, drags his friend, Ira Kane (David Duchovny), the community college biology professor, to the site. Kane soon realizes that the meteor contains organisms which are evolving very rapidly. Three days later, little alien creatures have begun to appear. The Army soon takes over and Dr. Allison Reed (Julianne Moore), of the CDC, becomes an unwitting liaison between the professors and the government. Soon, things get out of hand.

The story sounds promising. It could make a great summer comedy in the vain of "Ghostbusters", perhaps Reitman's most famous film. It has all of the elements of "Ghostbusters": otherworldly creatures, smart-alecky adults, some funny lines, loads of special effects. This is where the problem lies. "Evolution" simply recycles all of these characteristics without adding a new dimension. Duchovny plays the Ackroyd and Ramis roles, Jones the Murray role, Scott the Moranis role and Moore plays a pale comparison of the Sigourney Weaver role. "Evolution" also lacks a crucial element: character development.

Kane starts out as the scientific, smart, wise-cracking professor. At the end of the film, he is the same character. Throughout the film, we are supposed to recognize that he and Dr. Reed have a building sexual attraction. As neither character evolves, how can a relationship build between them. They start out as adversaries and don't seem to grow any closer.

The biggest flaw with all of the characters is that they are all the same. Good guys and villains alike are all bumbling, stupid and reckless. The trailer for the film contains a shot of Julianne Moore stumbling on some steps. This is repeated at least four times in the film. This is her major comedic contribution to the film. Scott has made a career of playing characters that have less than a full deck. He doesn't really add anything to the character this time. Jones has the majority of the funny lines, but many of the lines are based on character flaws which are really not given any depth. Bill Murray's Peter Venckmann was an extremely smart-alecky skirt chaser. The first scene featuring his character shows him testing a nerd and a beautiful student. The situation is hilarious. Remarkably, "Evolution" introduces Jones' character in much the same way with poor results.

As I watched "Evolution", I wondered how a film about aliens evolving very quickly could feel so long. I have to fault director Reitman for this. The film seems to plod along. Its difficult to pinpoint exactly why, but I have the sense that Reitman was going through the motions. There is very little sense of energy as the characters are running around.

"Evolution" also features one of the strangest product placements I have ever seen. "Pearl Harbor" had Coke bottles used for IVs. "Evolution" has... Well, to reveal it would spoil the ending. Hollywood seems to be in a phase in which they believe that a product placement is OK, as long as you make fun of it. Sorry, product placements this blatant are still annoying.

"A little more."
"No more."
"Little Deeper."
"No deeper."
"Almost there."
"Your there."
"Don't you ever do that again!"
"Is there anything you'd like?"
"Ice cream."
"What flavor?"
"It doesn't matter, it's for my @ss."

In Glen Canyon, Arizona, Wayne (Seann William Scott), is practicing for his upcoming fireman's exam, when a meteorite crashes on his car. The next day biology teacher Dr. Ira Kane (David Duchovny) and geology teacher Harry Block (Orlando Jones) from the local Community College start investigating the meteorite, which has fallen into an abandoned shaft 80 feet under the Earths surface. Kane and Block take a sample of a blue fluid from the meteorite. Kane discovers single-celled life-forms dwell in the fluid, and evolve at a rate not known to man. While Block is focused on the Nobel Prize, the single cell organisms are not what they appear. The Cells quickly evolve into multi cell creatures, then into living life forms at unbelievable rates. Back in the abandoned shaft life forms are starting to spread, leading to the Military becoming involved. The Military quickly take over Kane and Blocks scientific study, lead by General Russell Woodman (Ted Levine) and Dr. Allison Reed, CDC (Julianne Moore) who Kane finds attractive. Will Kane and Block get credit for their research, will the Aliens keep spreading and take over the world, will Wayne get to be a fireman?

"I'm no biologist, but how many cells does a single cell organism have?"

Ivan Reitman (Twins, Ghostbusters I and II, Meatballs, Kindergarten Cop, and Junior) directs Evolution. He has not made another movie since. His next work is on a television series called "Cooking Lessons," which is still in the pilot phase. Reitman is a big fan of science fiction movies, but he specializes in comedies. Reitman in the jacket for this film says he enjoys putting the two together. He obviously does a very good job at it.

"Hey Wayne, I think we established ca-caw, ca-caw, and tookie-tookie don't work."

Evolution had a lot of funny parts, and had a good enough story to keep you entertained. The movie had a Men in Black feel to it, where you follow the story only enough to see what happens next. There are also a few overly cheesy scenes. The only two down falls I have for this movie is when it started heading towards a Shampoo commercial, and the injection of Dan Aykroyd's character, which seemed unnecessary.

"Fruit basket for Russell Woodman."

Evolution is definitely a movie you need to know what you're getting into before you see it. It is along the lines of the Ghostbusters, perhaps a little more like the second one. It is a movie you take at face value, and only watch with the intention to be entertained. You cannot take any portion seriously, or you will not enjoy the film. It is definitely geared to a younger crowed. I found the movie funny, and far better then I expected when I went to the movie theatre to view it. I would not call it a must have in your DVD collection, and I would strongly recommend viewing before buying. Evolution is not for everyone. If you like movies with a real strong science fiction element, with focus on humor, you will enjoy this movie.

"Give me back my friend you big sphincter."

Grade: B

The special effects are very good . And I love the idea of the use of certain unconventional element for ending an alien invasion, that's a huge laugh !!!!! ha ha ha ha ha
I think Ivan reitman have a very good sense of comedy.
It's in the tradition of "Ghostbusters" , the cast is all right, enjoying themselves and Julianne Moore is having fun.
It's a feel good movie and a good one.
This movie is made for laughs and achieve some good ones.

Is it a master piece ? no, but , who cares ?

This is the first movie (that I've seen anyway) that Orlando Jones has been in since he left Mad TV. Also look for other Mad TV cast members in cameo roles (Pat Kilbane and Andrew Bowen).
Of course, Seann William Scott was funny as always.
This movie made me laugh because of the great premise. It takes a awidely accepted "scientific" theory, and makes it into a sci-fi/comedy. I found that particularly amusing because the theory of evolution, in itself, sounds like a sci-fi flick. As the creature evolve and get stronger, the suspense builds, so it makes it more fun as it goes along.
This is a must see, even if it does get serious at points.