Here is the Mab-Lib version of the summary of “Ghostbusters”, “Evolution” and, if you want to be a producer, maybe your first big hit….

      _________  is a story about eccentric college professors in _________ who stumble upon the unusual phenomenon of  _________.  The film employs great special effect to combine humor and horror with _______ success.

For the earlier film, "Ghostbusters", the Mab-Lib words would be Ghostbusters, New York,  spirits, great.

For this film the words would be Evolution, Arizona, aliens, very limited.

      “Evolution” seems to be one of the movies where the producers committed to make the film while having only a partially written script.  The first half of the film moves along pretty well, and is sufficiently funny.  The quirky characters are introduced, the plot elements are established, and the stage is set for the makings of a pretty good movie.  But then the script ran out and the special effects began.  The effects were good technically, but they really were neither funny nor scary, and they did not move the plot along in any way.  In fact they hindered the movie a great deal.  Once the special effect creatures began to appear, the humor, interaction and personalities of the characters just vanished as they were too busy chasing flying aliens through shopping malls. 

      I’m no David Duchovny fan, and this movie did not motivate me to search the web for the official David Duchovny fan club.  He was flat and not the least bit funny.  Orlando Jones was OK, but very uneven.  He actually seemed to be trying not to be funny.  Someone should tell him that a comedy is not the place for a comedian to try to showcase his serious acting talents.  Actually I’m probably being too harsh on him since he was the best thing about the second half of the movie.  I guess without a script he loosened up a bit and we could finally see his humor.  Seann William Scott was pleasantly amusing in the film, his character reminded me of  a combination of Sean Penn’s character in "Fast High Times at Ridgemont High" and any Jim Carrey character on heavy doses of Ritalin.   Julianne Moore should take this film off her resume.  She should pretend she was never in the film.  Her character could have been played by any female member of the Screen Actors Guild, probably even Ms. Piggy.  Her character was so shallow and dull it was more painful to see her with David Duchovny than in constant danger with Hannibal Lecter ("Hannibal"). 

      The script was poor, the acting marginal, and character development was non-existent.  There was no character in this movie I would miss if one of the monsters gobbled them up during the first reel.  However, I would have to agree with the chubby kid who, at the end of the film, burst out the theater doors and said to his friends “it wasn’t that bad.”  I agree.  It wasn’t that bad.  (It wasn’t that good either.)   

     -- Pappy ( 2 out of 4 pops )

Talk about this film with other Popkorn Junkies

      James ( 3 out of 4 pops )  

      I was really looking forward to this movie, and while it wasn't great, I was certainly entertained.  The casting was great-- you've got a klutz in Julianne Moore, a wannabe fireman in Seann William Scott, two community college professors in Orlando Jones and David Duchovny, and a governor in Dan Akroyd.  Orlando Jones probably shines the brightest, but Seann William Scott is a close second.  Ethan Suplee's character was  a nice touch too.   The effects and the design of all the little aliens was pretty good.  You've probably never seen aliens like this in a movie but you've probably seen the usual dumb military guys who wants to blow everything up.  The movie has some korny dialogue, but I laughed more and harder than in “What's the Worst that Could Happen?” so I'm giving "Evolution" a better review.  Oh, by the way, there’s some shameful promotion (intentional too).  I won't say anything more.

      Liz ( 1 1/2 out of 4 pops )

      1 1/2 pops:  I've decided what I'd use a time machine for, if given the chance.  I'd go back to the moment when Hollywood decided that it is more important to have flashy clips for the preview than actual quality content for the movie.  And I'd erase that moment in time.  This whole movie is one long preview, and it's not very exciting.  Some of the acting was so bad, combined with a lacking script ("What I really want to be is Miss Arizona.") that I couldn't even tell if it was supposed to be sarcastic (hello, Orlando Jones).  Also, the movie may not be rated PG, but it is obviously aimed at juveniles - so why include foul language?  Who do the film-makers think they're impressing?  I know the eleven-year-old-ish boys in front of me got a kick out of some serious ear-desensitizing, but come on.  What's the point?