Evolution (film) 899255 226020429 2008-07-16T13:53:50Z 121.220.31.62 /* Plot */ {{This|the 2001 science-fiction comedy film|Evolution (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox Film | name = Evolution | image = Evolution movie.jpg | caption = ''Evolution'' film poster | director = [[Ivan Reitman]] | producer = [[Joe Medjuck]]<br>[[Ivan Reitman]]<br>Daniel Goldberg | writer = [[David Diamond]]<br>Don Jakoby<br>David Weissman | starring = [[David Duchovny]]<br>[[Orlando Jones]]<br>[[Julianne Moore]]<br>[[Seann William Scott]] | music = [[John Powell]] | cinematography = [[Michael Chapman]] | editing = [[Wendy Greene Bricmont]]<br>[[Sheldon Kahn]] | distributor = '''- USA -'''<br>[[DreamWorks]]<br>'''- non-USA -'''<br>[[Columbia Pictures]] | released = [[June 8]], [[2001 in film|2001]] | runtime = 101 min. | country = [[USA]] | awards = | language = [[English language|English]] | budget = ~ US$80,000,000 | preceded_by = | followed_by = | amg_id = 1:244328 | imdb_id = 0251075 }} '''''Evolution''''' is a [[2001 in film|2001]] [[comedy film|comedy]] [[science fiction film|sci-fi]] [[film|movie]] directed by [[Ivan Reitman]]. It is based on a story by Don Jakoby who converted it into a [[screenplay]] along with [[David Diamond]] and [[David Weissman]]. The movie was originally written as a serious [[horror film|horror]] science fiction film, until director Ivan Reitman re-wrote much of the script. A short-lived [[animated series]], ''[[Alienators: Evolution Continues]]'', that was loosely based on the film was broadcast months after the movie was released. The film was distributed in North America by [[DreamWorks]] and overseas by [[Columbia Pictures]]. == Plot == Ira Kane and Harry Block discover an [[Extraterrestrial life in popular culture|extraterrestrial]] organism in a meteorite that has crashed through the surface rock into a network of undergound caverns. Though initially a simple goo, the organism rapidly evolves into a variety of creatures including primates and pterosaur-like species that threaten to take over the sleepy town of Glen Canyon, Arizona. Soon the government (and army), led by Allison Reed and Russell Woodman, who are quite familiar with Ira Kane, attends the scene and attempt to control the situation. Unfortunately, the aliens mutate rapidly when set on fire and their method of destroying the alien lifeform via napalm actually boosts its growth and it comes down to Kane, Block and a few friends to save everyone. It is discovered that [[selenium]], an ingredient in some [[dandruff]] shampoos, is as [[poison]]ous to the alien life-forms as [[arsenic]] is to humans. This idea is brought about by performing the same translation of movements (Knight's move in chess: down two and right one) in the [[periodic table]] from [[nitrogen]] (the primary element in the alien life-form) to selenium as from [[carbon]] (the primary element in humans) to arsenic. == Cast == {| class="wikitable" |- ! Actor !! Role |- | [[David Duchovny]] | [[Colonel]] (Ret.) Dr. Ira Kane, PhD. |- | [[Julianne Moore]] | Dr. Allison Reed, PhD. |- | [[Orlando Jones]] | Professor Harry Phineas Block |- | [[Seann William Scott]] | Wayne Grey |- | [[Ted Levine]] | [[Brigadier General]] Russell Woodman |- | [[Ethan Suplee]] | Deke Donald |- | [[Michael Bower]] | Danny Donald |- | [[Pat Kilbane]] | Officer Sam Johnson |- | [[Ty Burrell]] | Colonel Flemming |- | [[Dan Aykroyd]] | Governor Lewis |- | [[Katharine Towne]] | Nadine |- | [[Gregory Itzin]] | Barry Cartwright |- | [[Ashley Clark]] | [[Lieutenant]] Cryer |} [[Kyle Gass]], [[Sarah Silverman]], [[Richard Moll]], [[Tom Davis]], [[Miriam Flynn]], [[Caroline Reitman]] and [[John Cho]] have cameo appearances. == Trivia == {{Trivia|date=February 2008}} * The idea of goo turning into a variety of living things (including a primate) is in part the plot of the Bolero sequence of [[Allegro Non Troppo]]. * During the lengthy shooting in [[Page, Arizona|Page]], [[Arizona]], Dan Aykroyd entertained locals by checking ID cards for guests at a bar, unofficially greeting people at [[Wal-Mart]], and visiting locals for a cup of [[coffee]] in their homes. * Because the film was shot (but not set) in December, DreamWorks asked the locals to delay putting up their [[Christmas]] decorations. Following the shoot, DreamWorks paid the city employees overtime to decorate the town in time for Christmas. * The clumsiness of Julianne Moore's character was her idea. * The three main characters perform a commercial for "[[Head & Shoulders]]" at the end of the movie. Ivan Reitman's son came up with the idea. * David Duchovny turned down a role in ''[[Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones]]'' to appear in this movie. * The three-eyed [[smiley face]] used as the logo of the film in marketing was borrowed from the comic book ''[[Transmetropolitan]]''. Producers had to get permission from [[DC Comics]] to use it and were licensed by Smileyworld Ltd., owner of the [[smiley face]] trademark, to use it for advertising and commercial purposes. * All of the on-campus, classroom, lab and professor's office scenes were filmed at [[California State University, Fullerton]], in [[Fullerton, California|Fullerton]], [[California]]. The building used for the movie was Miles D. McCarthy Hall, which is currently home to the College of Natural Science and Mathematics. == References == <references /> == See also == *[[Panspermia]] == External links == {{Wikiquote}} * {{Imdb title|id=0251075|title=Evolution}} * {{rotten-tomatoes|id=1108206-evolution|title=Evolution}} * {{mojo title|id=evolution|title=Evolution}} {{Ivan Reitman}} [[Category:2001 films]] [[Category:DreamWorks films]] [[Category:Columbia Pictures films]] [[Category:American films]] [[Category:Comedy films]] [[Category:Comedy science fiction films]] [[Category:English-language films]] [[Category:Evolution in popular culture and entertainment]] [[Category:Films directed by Ivan Reitman]] [[Category:Films shot in Super 35]] [[de:Evolution (Film)]] [[es:Evolution (película)]] [[fr:Evolution (film)]] [[hr:Evolucija (2001)]] [[it:Evolution (film)]] [[lt:Evoliucija (filmas)]] [[ja:エボリューション (映画)]] [[fi:Evoluutio (elokuva)]]