Evan Almighty
John Debney
" God's little helper gets an almighty score "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
The sequel to the big hit of 2003, Bruce Almighty was not the god at the box office some might have predicted. It seemed Evan Almighty lacked Jim Carrey's presence and facial expressions more than one would have hoped, even though the creators should be applauded for doing something totally different. The lead of Evan Baxter (the newsreader who's ridiculed in the middle of Bruce Almighty) was perhaps misguided, the effects at the end were not. Becoming the most expensive comedy ever, the movie did not win its humongous budget of 175 million dollars back, making it a financial loss and the end of a nonetheless fruitful career as director for Tom Shadyac (at least for now).
For John Debney, Evan Almighty was considered a step up. We have complained that John Debney doesn't get the chance enough to write for something humongous, epic or adventurous. Well, Evan Almighty may have failed audiences on the anticipation scale, John Debney does not. Whatever amazing effect you find at the end of the film, expect John Debney to top it with a more than large scale finale.
But if you somehow delete that epic finale, it's important to realize that the rest is all pretty standard stuff. Luckily themes are used to tie it all together. We have the Baxter's theme, a sweet loving theme that stands for the entire family in "Baxter's to Bed". We have the lovely piano version of "Evan's Theme" as well. And God is present in stereo too, namely through the help of gospel solo vocals in "God's theme", whilst getting a wonderful encore when it's flawlessly combined with Evan's theme in "Evan and God". The rest of the underscore toys with Evan's escapades, like the encounters with the animals in "Congressional Animals", or when God shows Evan a heavenly encounter in "Genesis 6:14", both through the use of vocals. A case of temptrack even wanders through in "Grooming Montage", most specifically the begin of The Family Man.
But luckily, we still have the ark theme to hold on to. And holding on to it you shall, considering it's a magical knock out. It opens the album with a glorious eruption, it plays soothingly over the charming feel good finale of "Acts of Random Kindness" (with Evan's theme as best seller) and it literally blows everyone away in John Debney's attempt to rival Cutthroat Island in "The Flood", a masterful choral build up of epic proportions. And if you consider all that for a comedy film, you realize the music is actually pretty magical, pretty sweet and seriously pretty epic (just like the film). So it may have fooled you viewers thinking this was going to be another Bruce Almighty, but luckily God intended it to be a little more Evan Almighty instead. Recommended for the last 2 tracks alone.
Favorite Moment - The Flood (5.11 - 5.37)
You have to hear this one soar on screen, what an epic thunderous moment for sure
Track Listing
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
For John Debney, Evan Almighty was considered a step up. We have complained that John Debney doesn't get the chance enough to write for something humongous, epic or adventurous. Well, Evan Almighty may have failed audiences on the anticipation scale, John Debney does not. Whatever amazing effect you find at the end of the film, expect John Debney to top it with a more than large scale finale.
But if you somehow delete that epic finale, it's important to realize that the rest is all pretty standard stuff. Luckily themes are used to tie it all together. We have the Baxter's theme, a sweet loving theme that stands for the entire family in "Baxter's to Bed". We have the lovely piano version of "Evan's Theme" as well. And God is present in stereo too, namely through the help of gospel solo vocals in "God's theme", whilst getting a wonderful encore when it's flawlessly combined with Evan's theme in "Evan and God". The rest of the underscore toys with Evan's escapades, like the encounters with the animals in "Congressional Animals", or when God shows Evan a heavenly encounter in "Genesis 6:14", both through the use of vocals. A case of temptrack even wanders through in "Grooming Montage", most specifically the begin of The Family Man.
But luckily, we still have the ark theme to hold on to. And holding on to it you shall, considering it's a magical knock out. It opens the album with a glorious eruption, it plays soothingly over the charming feel good finale of "Acts of Random Kindness" (with Evan's theme as best seller) and it literally blows everyone away in John Debney's attempt to rival Cutthroat Island in "The Flood", a masterful choral build up of epic proportions. And if you consider all that for a comedy film, you realize the music is actually pretty magical, pretty sweet and seriously pretty epic (just like the film). So it may have fooled you viewers thinking this was going to be another Bruce Almighty, but luckily God intended it to be a little more Evan Almighty instead. Recommended for the last 2 tracks alone.
Favorite Moment - The Flood (5.11 - 5.37)
You have to hear this one soar on screen, what an epic thunderous moment for sure
Track Listing
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