Review: Evolution of the funniest kind

There's something funny going on in Evolution. Ivan Reitman's (Ghostbusters) newest comedic creature feature is littered with very cool special effects and big yuks, but what distinguishes this particular bit of sci-fi silliness is its general air of good-natured innocence.

David Duchovny and Orlando Jones star as science teachers who are the first to arrive at the scene of a meteor crash.



The samples they take from the big rock that has fallen to earth reveal the presence of a single-cell life form. However, that life form is evolving in record time -- in a matter of hours, the original amoebas (amoebae?) have fast-forwarded in development to cover the same turf that earth creatures needed millions of years to finesse. From cells to worms to bugs to ... well, you get the picture.

Our heroes are quickly elbowed out of the way by science heavies in the armed forces, among them an intelligent but hopelessly clumsy epidemiologist (Julianne Moore) and a wildly sadistic general (Ted Levine).

Given the rapid development of the creatures, who now resemble winged dinosaurs and buck-toothed apes and whatnot, and the interference of the armed forces, can our heroes save the world? Sure they can.

For a guy who has spent the better part of his career as the poster boy for towering intellect, David Duchovny is pretty damn funny. He and Orlando Jones are beautifully matched for comedy; their patter is quick and endearing, as is most of the joking around in this film.

Julianne Moore, whose character is constantly falling off things and dropping stuff, is delightful here. It helps that the jokes in Evolution are never underlined.

No winking. No nudge-nudge. The 'creatures' in this movie, meanwhile, are imaginative, colourful and simultaneously cute and scary. They are by no means the whole story, which is a refreshing change. The overall effect we observed at a screening of Evolution was laughing adults sitting next to mesmerized kids.

That's a tough balance to maintain. Evolution aces it.