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Evolution
DreamWorks Distribution L.L.C.


6.5

based on 32 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 24 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

FILM:

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, and for sci-fi action

Starring David Duchovny, Julianne Moore, Orlando Jones, Seann William Scott, Ty Burrell, Ted Levine, and Dan Aykroyd

This comedy follows the chaos that ensues when a meteor hits the Earth carrying alien life forms that give new meaning to the term "survival of the fittest." (Dreamworks SKG)

GENRE(S):	Sci-fi
WRITTEN BY:	Don Jakoby (also story) David Diamond David Weissman
DIRECTED BY:	Ivan Reitman
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: December 26, 2001 Video: December 26, 2001 Theatrical: June 8, 2001
RUNNING TIME:	105 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

Visually witty and even marvelous when it comes to depicting the spectacular creatures evolving at a speed previously known only in the Bible.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

This unevenly paced comedy is an amusing parody of monster movies from "Them!" to "Alien."

Variety Todd McCarthy

A consistently amusing action romp.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Somewhat refreshingly aspiring to be nothing more than a disposable summer popcorn movie, this is a flick that delivers more smiles than laughs and has some wonderful special effects.

USA Today Susan Wloszczyna

Instead of scoring belly laughs, there's a run on randy guy banter between Duchovny and Jones.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

It's not good, but it's nowhere near as bad as most recent comedies; it has real laughs, but it misses real opportunities.

Chicago Tribune Mark Caro

This is "Ghostbusters" meets "Men in Black" meets a whole lot of butt humor.

Boston Globe Jay Carr

It's a ponderous but not unenjoyable comedy.

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

Half a barrel of laughs. The other half is made of slime.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

There are a handful of funny moments, and the top end of the cast comes off rather well. Duchovny has some of that same easygoing likability that made Glenn Ford one of the biggest stars of the '50s.

The New York Times Dana Stevens

The movie itself evolves in reverse, starting life as a moderately clever grab bag of high-concept noodling and half-witty badinage before descending into the primordial ooze of explosions and elaborate lower- intestinal gags.

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

The special effects are variable, but even when they're good they don't have much impact because Evolution, with its self-trashing spirit, turns moviegoers into bemused bysitters.

LA Weekly Manohla Dargis

Amiably goofy, but it isn't especially funny.

Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector

Demands to be treated with conviction as parody if not as science fiction.

Slate David Edelstein

I laughed -- but mostly to keep from getting depressed about the devolution of mainstream movies.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

The story isn't much -- the ever-evolving aliens are better served by the cute-but-icky effects than the simplistic script -- but it skims along on the cast's chemistry.

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

Tired, clumsy and appallingly ugly to look at.

Salon.com Andrew O'Hehir

Proceeds at such an amiable pace and features enough creepy-crawly effects that many viewers won't quite notice or care how rickety and second-rate it is.

New Times (L.A.) Robert Wilonsky

Evolution is merely stale, sterile and, worst of all, safe.

Los Angeles Times John Anderson

Reitman's attempt to show he can re-create the success of his biggest comedy ever. What he proves instead is that, given time and money, a comedy director can devolve into a lower life form.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

It's refried comic beans that smell stale and smack of desperation.

Mr. Showbiz Kevin Maynard

Reitman has truly lost his gift for comic rhythms, cluttering up the film with running yuks that aren't that funny the first time and certainly don't improve with repetition.

Baltimore Sun Athima Chansanchai

Tries to rock our world, but it regresses to a single-celled B-movie.

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

Evolution devolves to the sight of a colossal alien expelling flatus over Arizona. So that's why this movie stinks. Play that flatulent music, white boy.

Film.com Tom Keogh

An excruciating misfire.

Austin Chronicle Kimberley Jones

The jokes just aren't there, which makes it very hard for the stars -- who are trying very, very hard -- to really make a dent.

Washington Post Rita Kempley

The insane casting: When was the last time Julianne Moore cracked you up?

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

Director Ivan Reitman used to know how to tell a silly story, back around the time of "Stripes" and "Ghostbusters."

San Francisco Chronicle Edward Guthmann

In a movie as hackneyed and as dull as Evolution, the small favors of Duchovny's performance stand out.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

Evolution is bad. How bad? Who cares? Do you ask how hot the fire is before running out of a burning building? No, you just run for safety.

Village Voice J. Hoberman

Sodden mess, a mutation-invasion movie that passes "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!" going south.

New York Magazine Peter Rainer

Began life as a standard sci-fi horror script before mutating into the unfunny mess it now is.

The average user rating for this movie is 6.5 (out of 10) based on 24 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Angel K. gave it a 10:
It was funny yukky.

raVen gave it a 4:
For those of you not familiar with his work on X-Files: David Duchovny really can be funny. But then, the writing's better for X-Files. Watch this movie if you are renting a bunch of them--by itself it'll leave you empty. PS: If the VCR eats the last five minutes of the tape don't worry, it's for the best.

Adam L. gave it a 9:
Ace film if you love stifler out of american pie 2 you will love this, all round funny film with david duchovny and orlando jones.

Toml L. gave it a 10:
This is Ivan Reitman's best film since Ghostbusters! The movie had everything a good solid comedy needs.

Aeon M. gave it a 10:
Very, very funny.

Alex K. gave it a 9:
Okay, it's no "Ghostbusters," but it's the best new comedy I've seen in a really long time, and amidst the Joe Dirts and Fingered Freddies, this one really stands out with some clever Reitman-isms, hilarious creatures, and really satisfying performances from Duchovny, Jones, and (surprisingly) Scott.

Ryan M. gave it a 7:
It's not funny, but it definitely has a couple good laughs, and the special effects are amazing. I admit Reitman could have been a lot more original. But it wasn't a terrible movie.

Evolution DreamWorks Distribution L.L.C.

Evolution
DreamWorks Distribution L.L.C.