Evan Almighty

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Years after the enormous monster hit Bruce Almighty where Jim Carrey portrayed God in person and changed all of our lives for better or worse, comes the sequel directed one more time by Tom Shadyac. Only this time it concentrates on that wacky news reporter Evan Baxter instead to lead God's heavenly ways to a better or worse outcome. The movie became one of the most expensive comedies ever made (considering they made Washington flood over in one of the most visual endings ever for a comedy). The movie however will not reach the stardom and especially box office result as Bruce Almighty but it did enough to return its expensive paycheck back to the producers. Along for the ride again are the actors that made their characters great (Steve Carell and Morgan Freeman) and composer John Debney who I might add has been doing a little too less bombastics for a change. And considering a comedy wasn't gonna change that I was wondering when we would see rollicking John back in action. Its then of course strange to discover one of Debney's most powerful pieces in this comedy score. Of course considering the epic flood and proportions this was understandable in a way yet still? In fact, how many people haven't compared the scale of the particular cue with his Cutthroat Island finale? Enough and in a way they are right, on a somewhat lesser action kind of way. We get a small interpretation already of that bigness in 'The Ark Theme' when choral grandeur opens and closes with the great ark theme, its totally Debney all right and it may not contain that greatness of the Cutthroat Island themes yet it sure makes a score as this bigger and better. With 'Baxter's to Bed' you go somewhat to the more comedy routine music but as much as this is a comedy, as little can be found of actually comedy music which of course makes the album all the more enjoyable and easier to like. In here Evan's main theme is used by piano sweetness. Somewhat resembling the Evan theme is the theme for God, equally enchanting and soothing, with both male and female vocals it works its way around 'God's Theme'. The only downside is perhaps 'Grooming Montage' which is a temptrack case of The Family Man's bombastic cheery opening. Its fun but surely detracts from all the rest on the album.

With 'Genesis 6:14' the soothing underscore is only altered when vocal and piano race with more otherworldly discoveries to the end. 'Evan's Theme' is as said the piano theme and here you definitely hear many comparisons with the Bruce theme of the first film. And in 'God's Valley' he does it to the God theme instead. A quick scherzo and difference is found in 'Evan Runs from Capitol' and especially the otherworldly effects are very effective for these kinds of moments. For 'Congressional Animals' more Debney style can be heard, like for instance Dragonfly like choir and use of piano, which in a way works considering it all comes from the same director's hand. However one of the finest moments is when the Evan and God theme leap into one another flawlessly on piano in 'Evan and God' and here Debney makes the most of both performances. The actual epic scale is evident when we reach the final tracks of the score. Starting with 'Take It Down' where the choral build up, layers of added suspense and the ark theme receive more attention now, including the once more Dragonfly like sounding chorals. And naturally 'The Flood' is the killer of the bunch, with 6 minutes of non stop build up, percussion, choir and trumpets up the wazoo and the most stunning Ark theme version yet, this cue is surely a sign Debney still hasn't lost his touch. Its not Cutthroat Island but its surely big. And for 'Acts of Random Kindness' the Debney cannon enters one final big version of the Ark theme, with the expected relieving note of choir and a finishing splash of winning fanfares. All in all, Evan Almighty is actually no comedy score because it feels much bigger than that. Plus it actually has little if no crazy running around cues like a Liar Liar had. In the end Bruce Almighty didn't have that as well but the real difference is the scope that Debney could now unleash with the mere flood of epic proportions. This of course makes all the fuzz and in the end the quality difference between a Bruce and an Evan Almighty. Its a very good listening experience, in both the epic and softer moments and I think you get just a little more in the end than the expected Debney sound. Way more if you have one roller coaster moment that slaps you silly in sheer bombastic energy. If that makes for you a happy buyer I guess you can do nothing wrong with Evan Almighty.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Ark Theme (1.44) Excellent Track

2. Baxter's To Bed (1.23)

3. God's Theme (3.10)

4. Grooming Montage (1.00)

5. Genesis 6:14 (5.19)

6. Evan's Theme (2.02)

7. Evan Runs From Capitol (1.26)

8. God's Valley (2.01)

9. God Crane Arrives (1.06)

10. Congressional Animals (3.17)

11. I'm Noah (4.47)

12. Evan And God (2.18)

13. Hummer Ride (3.32)

14. Take It Down (4.01)

15. The Flood (6.56) Excellent Track

16. Acts Of Random Kindness (4.47) Excellent Track

Total Length: 48.49

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=== Link to Composer Site: John Debney ===