"Evan Almighty": Nothing to pray or pay for

God really, really didn't want "Evan Almighty" to be a good movie. Otherwise, He in all of his infinite wisdom would have put some comedic genius into director Tom Shadyac's mind.

"Evan Almighty" is the not-so-almighty sequel to Shadyac's 2003 movie, "Bruce Almighty." The key part of any comedy, the humor, is so blatantly missing from this movie that it makes it 90 minutes of absolute nothingness.

Evan Baxter (Steve Carell of NBC's The Office and the blockbuster hit 40-Year Old Virgin) is an average newsman who has just been elected to a spot in the House of Representatives. He, his wife, Joan Baxter (Lauren Graham, most notably known for her performance in the WB's Gilmore Girls), and his three sons move from Buffalo to Washington D.C. to pursue his job.

Soon Evan finds his way to God (Morgan Freeman), or rather God finds his way to Evan. God or "G" wants Evan to build an ark for the great flood, and just like predecessor Bruce, Evan refuses and refuses until God just gets too darn mad to accept it. God must have his ark. Oh and on a complete side note, Congressman Long (John Goodman) has it in for Evan at the House. Don't worry. Somehow, these two story arcs meet together in the end.

Furthermore, the acting isn't any better than the plot. Carell adopts the aloof, clueless persona that has won him acclaim, and his "comedy" is full of awkward laughs and full-toothed smiles. But the lack of a script does seem to get to him. Perhaps it isn't his fault his dialog isn't witty and his jokes just can't seem to get a guffaw, laugh, snigger or even an amused smile from the audience. All there is to laugh about is his ridiculous appearance and even more ridiculous dance he does. But old moves and bushy hair become hackneyed after 10 minutes.

Freeman, on the other hand, doesn't appear enough; almost like the director had him in a lot of scenes and then on a whim cut them out. God appears and disappears like a guilty thought you just can't seem to get rid of, no matter how much you want to. Either Shadyac messed up or was trying to get some convoluted subliminal message out to the audience.

Even Graham seems to have dipped from her past performances. The director gave her such a small role, and she messed it up completely. While she is supposed to be the very confused, loving and yet miraculously supportive wife, Graham comes across as more angry, oblivious and disgusted.

Yet amid all the tedium and dullness there are flashes, however brief, of brilliance. Rita (Wanda Sykes), Evan's executive assistant is played wonderfully, but sadly, she supplies every funny joke in the movie. And of course, since she's just the assistant, her screen time is limited – meaning that jokes come few and far between.

And from a purely cinematographic point of view, Shadyac has worked miracles. The most memorable scene, which appeared in trailers and commercials alike, is the movement of hundreds of animals in pairs. The loading of animals onto the ark is no easy feat to arrange or film and Shadyac has done much more than simply pull it off.

Other than that, for the most expensive comedy in history, 'Almighty' fails dismally. The comedy is not funny, the movie has no script, and the actors lack talent. The flood that is imminent to the good people of Washington seems to have sunk this movie.

Evan Almighty is rated PG for mild rude humor and some peril. Now playing everywhere.