From Cinescape (May/June 2001 Issue)
Transcribed by Megan

By Jeff Berkwits

DIRECTOR: Ivan Reitman
CAST: David Duchovny, Orlando Jones, Julianne Moore, Seann William Scott
RELEASE DATE: June 8

When you're sitting in a sci-fi movie and you hear giggles, that's usually not the best sign - just ask John Travolta. But when Ivan Reitman is at the helm, directing a quirky cast that includes David Duchovny and Orlando Jones, laughter is the desired effect. And if the off-set yucks from the cast of Evolution are any indication, Reitman has achieved that effect in spades.

"There was definitely an attraction there," jokes Jones, describing his first meeting with Reitman. "[Ivan] was looking into the baby browns, and I was staring back into his. During the audition I definitely made a pass. He's happily married and would not have it, and then, of course, I realized I wasn't gay. So it was very confusing audition altogether."

Jones probably didn't really have to hop onto the casting couch to earn his part, but his conference with Reitman did give the director a change to describe his expectations for the picture. Reitman hopes that Evolution, which stars Jones and Duchovny as college professors battling an ever-evolving alien entity, isn't simply a film filled with scary scenes and sci-fi high jinks.

"One of the things that I hope people will notice is David and Orlando's relationship, [especially] in terms of how black/white friendships are characterized on film," says Reitman. "It's two really intelligent guys who are at times equally smart, equally adept, equally on top and equally stupid. It's not always the street guy who knows one thing and the educated guy who knows another. We work a dynamic that's somewhat different."

For Duchovny, who has shared a unique chemistry of his own with Gillian Anderson on The X-Files, investigating creepy crawlies and creating an interesting dynamic with a talented co-star is old hat. His biggest obstacle while filming the comedy was making sure that his character was, well, comedic.

"Comedy is challenging, because there's really only one criterion, and that's if people laugh or not," he notes. "In drama, people like a little or they like it a lot, but you don't have to cry to like it. With comedy, if people aren't laughing, it's not successful, so you're really putting your ass on the line."

Fortunately, the actor found Reitman's directional approach to be a great help in learning to flex his comedic muscles.

"Ivan is extremely specific," Duchovny explains. "He sees and hears everything. I mean, seeing everything is one thing, which is a talent in and of itself. But he also hears everything: He can hear in the tone of your voice whether or not he thinks you're relaxed. Often early in the morning, I won't be totally relaxed, and he'll come to me and he'll just talk to me about the voice and things that you wouldn't expect."

Evolution has also struggled to transcend its comedy boundaries. Throughout the film's devolpment, the producers were insistent that the adventure be more than just an amusing buddy picture with a few added sci-fi scenes. So along with Duchovny and Jones, the movie also features a plethora of CGI creatures created by Academy Award-winning special effects artist Phil Tippett. As a result, the filmmakers pledge that fans of high-intensity action won't be disappointed.

"We've actually made this way bigger than anyone would normally think you should," says producer Daniel Goldberg. "There are no little scenes where there are two people in a room and nothing happens. If two people are in a room, there's always a monster there or someone is shooting a gun."

--Cinescape