It's a movie, meant to entertain, not instruct, not proselytize, not signal the end is near. Indeed, according to star Steve Carell, "Evan Almighty is simply meant to be funny." But one of director Tom Shadyac's strengths as a comic filmmaker (Bruce Almighty, Liar, Liar) is that he realizes the best way to ridicule man's folly is by setting man's goals alongside biblical principals and principles.

"Evan desires the biggest house, biggest car, biggest job— the biggest everything—but he doesn't understand the cost of all that. He ultimately discovers that everything he does has a cost," Shadyac has said.

Carell reprises his role of newscaster Evan Baxter, but now the self-involved news anchor has become a freshman congressman and moved his family to suburban northern Virginia. Having lived a selfish life where he expresses who he is through possessions and position, Evan suddenly realizes that there is more to life than his little world. It dawns on him that he should seek the Almighty in order to help him change the world. Even that prayer reveals Evan's conceit. But once that prayer is uttered, Evan's life rapidly changes.

Like Bill Cosby's classic 1960s Noah routine, Evan wonders, "Who is this really? " When it becomes evident, however, that he really is being instructed by the Creator of the universe, Evan's spiritual nature begins to develop. And during times of crises (being ridiculed by the community, facing unemployment, the wife taking the kids back to Mom's), Evan's faith braces him for the job of changing the world through the ARK (Acts of Random Kindness). With the help of his three boys and armed with a first edition Ark Building for Dummies, Evan sets out to follow God's commands.

During a recent round table interview with the stars and filmmakers of Evan Almighty, a colleague asked each participant, "If we could speak to God today, what do you think He'd warn us? " Most of the artists either met the question with humor or stunned silence, as if the prospect was unfathomable. But Mr. Shadyac, a fellow Believer, was thoughtful, answering with, "I think He'd say, ‘I've already warned you.' It's been said. We just need to listen to what's been said. And we need to incorporate and act on what's been shown us through the lives of others and through the written Word."

Director Shadyac had attended UCLA film school, worked toward his Master's degree, and at age 23, became the youngest staff joke writer for Bob Hope. With an extensive list of producing, writing and directing credits, he is cognizant of Hollywood's devotion to finding projects that will garner the most ticket sales. "The studios are aware that the faith-based audience exists. Because of The Passion of the Christ, they have evidence that there are people out there who will come to the movies in droves if they feel a kindred spirit with the themes and tones of a movie."

Ah, but you're asking, "Didn't God say He'd never flood the entire Earth again? " Mustn't give anything away, here, but the theologian will be satisfied with the film's take on the biblical story.

Asked if the spiritual themes in the Almighty films has afforded him an opportunity to witness to his cast and crew, Shadyac again answered thoughtfully and with humility. "I'll tell you the best preaching I've ever done is without words. As Saint Francis of Assisi said, ‘Preach the gospel wherever you can. When all else fails, use words.' I'm 48, but in the best shape of my life. People come up to me all the time and ask, ‘Where do you get your energy? ' Well, I started riding a bicycle four years ago. I didn't preach about riding a bicycle, I just ride a bicycle. And now I have more energy, I'm lighter, hopefully brighter. And now everyone in my life has a bicycle. I never told them to get a bicycle. I just rode a bicycle. I don't think they care much about what I think of Jesus. But they care about how I embody the Sermon on the Mount or how I greet you. So the preaching is in the doing."

Though the film doesn't sermonize, it does address the need to care for our planet and the need to love one another. And faith. Evan Almighty makes it clear that faith is important, even inescapable. Like Noah, Evan is mocked by the community for his conviction. But when their scoffing turns to fear at the sight of imminent doom, Evan reaches out with forgiveness and a way of salvation. It is his faith put into loving action.

This is the kind of film the Christian community looks for – clean, filled with positive messages and entertaining for every age group. It has also steered clear of the sexual innuendo found in Bruce Almighty. However, Evan Almighty contains its fair share of poop humor. There is a small difference. Unlike films geared to the sensibilities of the sophomoric adolescent, here the comic device is used skillfully. You see, this is a movie filled with animals, and animals, especially birds, are not inhibited by bodily functions. Therefore, the filmmakers make use of animals, especially birds, to occasionally mock man's pomposity. It's still not in the best of taste, but it actually makes an amusing statement.

When questioned about the use of bird-dropping humor, Shadyac responded, "And religion ought to be separate from that? God designed the body. There's a lot of ways he could go with the whole elimination thing. But he designed the function in this miraculous, marvelous, funny, serious, dramatic way. And so the fact that I at my best can return to child likeness only speaks to spirituality, not against it.

"That said, I want to respect parents and what kids are hearing and have tried to do so." Shadyac concluded.