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Evolution Review

  • Release Date: Jun 08, 2001
  • Rated: crude and sexual humor, and for sci-fi action
  • Runtime: 1 hr. 39 min.
  • Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 3.0
    40

    out of 100

    Metascore®
    Mixed or average reviews
    based on a weighted average of all
    critic review scores.

  • 40

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times John Anderson

    Reitman's attempt to show he can re-create the success of his biggest comedy ever. What he proves instead is that, given time and money, a comedy director can devolve into a lower life form.

    Read Full Review

  • 50

    out of 100

    The New York Times Dana Stevens

    The movie itself evolves in reverse, starting life as a moderately clever grab bag of high-concept noodling and half-witty badinage before descending into the primordial ooze of explosions and elaborate lower- intestinal gags.

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  • 50

    out of 100

    Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

    The special effects are variable, but even when they're good they don't have much impact because Evolution, with its self-trashing spirit, turns moviegoers into bemused bysitters.

  • 63

    out of 100

    USA Today Susan Wloszczyna

    Instead of scoring belly laughs, there's a run on randy guy banter between Duchovny and Jones.

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  • 63

    out of 100

    Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

    It's not good, but it's nowhere near as bad as most recent comedies; it has real laughs, but it misses real opportunities.

    Read Full Review

  • 70

    out of 100

    Variety Todd McCarthy

    A consistently amusing action romp.

    Read Full Review

  • 75

    out of 100

    Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

    Visually witty and even marvelous when it comes to depicting the spectacular creatures evolving at a speed previously known only in the Bible.

    Read Full Review

  • See all Evolution reviews at Metacritic.com

For Families provided by Common Sense Media

Iffy for 14+

Uneven and unfocused, but has some inspired silliness.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this movie has some strong language and very raunchy toilet humor, with two extended sequences featuring rectal probes. There's sexual humor and mild sexual situations. Characters drink and smoke. Characters are in sci-fi peril, mostly comic. Guns and shooting are equated with manliness. A woman shoplifts and another holds up a sign that says "I can't die a virgin." Female and black characters are smart, brave, and accomplished, and inter-racial colleagues have a strong friendship. But there's an unpleasant joke about how all a female character needs is "a good humping," and, to make things worse, she overhears the comment and is insulted not because it is sexist but because it implies that she is not sexual.

  • Families can talk about evolution and natural selection, and about how Ira got in to trouble and how he reacted to it. Why didn't he care more about his job? What would happen if aliens did come to Earth?

What to watch for
  • violence false3

    Violence: Comic peril, some gross-out moments.

  • sex false1

    Sex: Mild references.

  • language false3

    Language: Some strong language and gross potty humor.

  • consumerism false0

    Consumerism: Not an issue

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false1

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: Mild.

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