Carell Solidifies Star Status with "Evan Almighty"

Ever since his first appearances several years back on The Daily Show, Steve Carell's universally appealing comic talent has caused his star to rise steadily. His first appearance in a major Hollywood picture was a supporting role in the 2003 Bruce Almighty, followed by another in Anchorman, followed by his first starring vehicle, The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Carell is solidifying his status as a marketable movie star with Evan Almighty (sequel to Bruce), which opens this Friday and which, like the first film, is directed by Tom Shadyac. This time, though, Carell, not Jim Carrey, will play the central role. In most respects, this will probably be a positive development. For every person who likes Carrey, there is someone else who is turned off by his persistent mugging, which he brings to every role he plays; Carell, though, has already displayed remarkable versatility throughout his modest filmography. (Carell was, however, gracious in his remarks about Carrey, saying, "To be even mentioned in the same sentence as Jim is a huge compliment to me").