Animal planet

Evan Almighty may be billed for adults, but it turns out to be a film that children may like | Harrison Scott Key

LOS ANGELES—Evan Almighty (rated PG for coarse humor), like all Hollywood pictures, makes a promise: This movie is for adults. Its progenitor, Bruce Almighty (2003) was a comedy clearly meant for the older set. And its star, Steve Carell, has built his career on work like The 40-Year Old Virgin and NBC's The Office. But in fact Evan Almighty is a film for children. And this isn't such a bad thing.

One's first clue, of course, is the presence of so many nice animals.

The film opens with Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) just elected to Congress. He promises not to let work get in the way of family, but soon his three boys and his wife find themselves without much of a dad. Then God shows up. Evan wants to change the world, and the Great I Am (Morgan Freeman) will give him that chance. Build an ark, he is told.