Orlando Jones, Seann William Scott and David Duchovny in "Evolution."

MOVIE INFORMATION

With 10 as a must-see, Jack gives this film a: Stars: David Duchovny Director: Ivan Reitman Rated: PG-13, with crude humor, comic violence Length: 102 minutes

ROCHESTERCRITIQUE

Having seen this film, how would you rate it? 10 5 9 4 8 3 7 2 6 1

By Jack Garner
Democrat and Chronicle

(June 8, 2001) -- If the wacky, shape-shifting denizens of Evolution seem familiar, chalk it up to their slimy kissing cousins -- the spooks in Ghostbusters. The creatures from both films know how to scare you (a little) and make you laugh (a lot).

And both come from filmmaker Ivan Reitman.

The director rekindles the zany spirit of Ghostbusters in this tale of invading aliens. Once again, unlikely heroes save the day, including David Duchovny, who seems to relish the opportunity for laughs in an X-Files-type story:

A meteor has slammed into the desert near the Grand Canyon. Two local community college professors, Ira Kane (Duchovny) and Harry Block (Orlando Jones), investigate -- and find tiny living organisms.

With visions of Nobel prizes dancing in their heads, they discover that the organisms are multiplying like crazy: They quickly grow from microbes to monsters big enough to block out the sky.

But before Kane and Block can take any action, government soldiers arrive with a stern attitude to seal off the desert site.

The army brings along its own scientist, a brilliant (if clumsy) epidemiologist, Dr. Allison Reed (Julianne Moore). Though Reed and Kane start off as adversaries, a romance develops.

The determined professors are also helped by Wayne (Seann William Scott), an amiable but dim-witted firefighter wannabe.

The basic story follows the outline of a dozen serious-if-stupid sci-fi flicks. Reitman's result is witty and entertaining.

Duchovny displays subtle comic timing and a talent for deadpan reactions. The very funny Orlando Jones (of The Replacements and 7Up commercials) is a more kinetic jokester as fellow professor (and girls volleyball coach) Harry Block.

The classy Moore is largely along as love interest, but her specialty here is assorted, well-staged pratfalls in the Chevy Chase tradition.

The computer-graphics folks contribute a wide range of ever-evolving alien creatures, from the most tiny to the most gigantic.