Evolution (2001)

Directed by: Ivan Reitman | 101 minutes | comedy, science fiction | Actors: David Duchovny, Julianne Moore, Orlando Jones, Seann William Scott, Ted Levine, Ethan Suplee, Michael Bower, Pat Kilbane, Ty Burrell, Dan Aykroyd, Katharine Towne, Gregory Itzin, Ashley Clark, Michelle Wolff, Sarah Silverman, Richard Moll Michael McGrady, Steven Gilborn, Wayne Duvall, Michael Chapman, Kyle Gass, Lucas Dudley, Steven Pierce, Wendy Braun, Jennifer Savidge, Jerry Trainor, Stephanie Hodge, Kristen Meadows, Winifred Freedman, Miriam Flynn, Tony Mirzoian, Morgan Nagler

There has never been a bigger commercial for Head&Shoulders than in ‘Evolution’. Believe it or not, the anti-dandruff shampoo in this film is the ultimate remedy to fight aliens! An idea from the son of director Ivan Reitman of ‘Ghost Busters’ (1984). “Evolution” was originally going to be a sci-fi horror, until Reitman rewrote the script into a sci-fi comedy full of absurd creatures, quick jokes and shampoo.

David Duchovny from the series ‘The X Files’ (1993-2002), turned down a role in ‘Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones’ (2002) to play Ira Kane, an exiled scientist who discovers his life does. He does this together with Professor Harry Block (Orlando Jones), his best friend and colleague at Glen Canyon Community College in Arizona. Nice that we can see something completely different from Duchovny here than Fox Mulder, the character he has become famous with. In the role as a hand model in ‘Zoolander’ (2001) he is very funny. He also succeeds in a comedic lead role, without intentionally trying to be funny. He and Jones are fun buddies and much of the humor comes from the two of them.

Seann William Scott plays after ‘Dude, Where’s My Car?’ (2000) a slightly brighter character. He is Wayne Grey, a ‘wannabe’ firefighter who is nearly hit by a meteor. In many of his films he has to suffer physically in one way or another, here there is an incident with a fire hose. You can also hear him sing, because his warbling is apparently the lure of a winged alien. This kind of humor is his specialty, so he doesn’t disappoint here. The team is completed with Julianne Moore from ‘Hannibal’ (2001) and ‘Children of Men’ (2006) as the clumsy scientist Allison Reed. Nice that the Oscar-nominated actress also lends herself to the alien fun in ‘Evolution’. Usually she plays more serious and heavy roles. ‘Monk’ (2002) actor Ted Levine is the annoying General Woodman. ‘Ghostbuster’ Dan Aykroyd has a nice supporting role as the governor of Arizona.

‘Evolution’ is a kind of ‘Ghostbusters’ without ghosts. If you like that, then you’re good. So enough familiar faces, but there are also aliens. Not all special effects are very convincing, but what they’ve come up with in life forms is special. The aliens are evolving at an unprecedented rate and the weirdest creatures are emerging in Glen Canyon. Jones thinks the actors deserve an Oscar because they had to act so much against the void. The scientific side of the plot isn’t that crazy after all. Duchovny makes a logical twist to find the solution, just like in ‘The X Files’. Who would have thought the stupid students could help Deke and Danny? You have to see for yourself how the aliens are defeated, with what has already been revealed. Let’s say Jones pays the aliens in equal measure…

Sarita Koendjbiharie