Evolution is a no-brainer

Vivek Fernandes

Have a nice end of the world.

What would you expect from a film, which had that as its tag line?

If your answer was a 105-minute-slapstick-comic caper brimming with corny humour and cheesy double entendre, you'd be bang on!

Evolution has David Duchovny, along with a band of jolly jokers, taking on the scum of the universe, armed with nothing but gallons of Head and Shoulders shampoo.

Now, that’s got to be first, as far as ingenuity is concerned. No matter if nothing could be more absurd.

Dr Ira Kane (Duchovny) is a disgraced government scientist (ostracised because he created a vaccine whose side effects included partial paralysis, diarrhea and uncontrollable flatulence) turned community college professor. One fine day, he discovers a mysterious otherworldly life form in a meteorite that comes crashing down, bang in the middle of Arizona.

Assisted by colleague Harry Block (Orlando Jones), professor of geology and coach of the girls' volleyball team, Ira delves deeper into the matter, harbouring hopes of winning the Nobel prize.

His findings reveal that the unicellular organisms are multiplying rapidly, which means that they’re up to no good.

As mitosis takes place, the paramecia continue to divide on their way to rule. And within five days, they manage to do what humans took billions of years to accomplish -- the flatworm now is the flying beast.

By this time, the US government and Dr Alison (Julianne Moore) from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention are in the thick of things, and our poor professors are left clueless. But together, with dopey fire-fighter wannabe Wayne (Seann William Scott ), two fat frat blokes and Dr Alison, these doctors rid the earth of the deadly menaces.

The end of the world is postponed, thanks to the heroic and often, hilarious histrionics of the fivesome -- for now at least. Bin Laden and Bush are another matter.

The cast, especially Jones, put up decent performances. Standing under a giant ameoba anus that's spewing gunk all over you, doesn't call for an Ocar-winning performance. But Julianne, who keeps tripping over herself, gets aggravating. And Dan Aykroyd in a miniscule cameo, as the state govenor, is a sight in his fur coat.

The films FX (ten legged scorpions, hybrid dragonflies and alien puppies) are neat! That’s all that's really worth mentioning.

Then again, this is one daft film, it’s not pretentious. How could it be with lines like 'There’s always time for lubricant'! Director Ivan Reitman, (Ghostbusters and Six Days,Seven Nights) doesn't have a winner this time!

Catch Evolution for a lark.

Pity Charles Darwin still ain’t around. Wonder what he’d have to say!

Credits:
Cast: David Duchovny, Julianne, Moore, Orlando Jones, Seann William Scott.
Director/Producer: Ivan Reitman