Infinite MonkeysLooks like Universal's "Evan Almighty," despite a huge ad blitz, is going to bomb — which is too bad. Steve Carrell is one of Hollywood's most endearing success stories. Nonetheless, a tepid opening makes it very unlikely that it will come anywhere close to recouping its $175 million to $200 million budget. As rotttentomatoes.com points out, only 21 percent of a pool of 112 movie critics gave it a positive review — and only 9 percent of "major" media outlets gave it a thumbs up. Ouch.
A blogger at Deadline Hollywood Daily put it best:
Even though the studio is dragging out every trick in the Christian playbook, including that PR firm to the religious Grace Hill Media, to convince holy-rollers in fly-over country to see this take-off on the already tired Noah’s Ark tale. I suspect The Passion Of The Christ crowd wants stories based on the New Testament than the Old Testament. Leave it to heathen Hollywood not to comprehend that.
Indeed. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha .... Hollywood understanding the role of religion in people's lives is like me trying to understand Aramaic. Not gonna happen.
Posted by Dr. Zaius at June 24, 2007 11:16 AMFrom the first link:
"Can you tell me how a movie that is PG rated, has 3,000 animals, and boasts God, can't get parents to take their kids?"
That is exactly the cluelessness I would expect from a studio exec. Hmmm, let's see:
1. The film's predecessor was clearly targeted at more "mature" (i.e. teen-to-adult) audiences.
2. The commercials make the film look like it's mocking religion.
3. Apart from lending his voice to "Over The Hedge," the film's star does not have a history of making movies targeted at children.
4. Carell's last movie was a hilarious but f-bomb laden black comedy not even remotely appropriate for children.
5. His biggest hit was even LESS child-appropriate.
As a parent, given all of the above, I would certainly want to see the movie by myself before taking my kids to see it. And I wouldn't want to perform that preview on opening weekend.
I like Steve Carell, and I hope the movie is funny and successful. But the studio and director expectations should have been more reasonable.
"Do you know how I know you're gay? You spent $200 million making a questionably-appropriate kids' movie and were surprised it didn't do well on its opening weekend."
Posted by: Monkey RobbL at June 25, 2007 09:16 AMWell, at the very least, this movie deepened Richard Roeper's relationship with God. You can tell, because his review begins with the phrase, "Oh, my God, this movie sucks."
Posted by: Poochucker at June 29, 2007 03:37 PMThat is one of the most clever and funniest opening lines in a review I'd ever read.
Posted by: Dr. Zaius at June 30, 2007 07:09 AM