History Film / Evolution

** The Governor threatens to send the military guys who botched containment to state prison "with the crotch-biters".

* HeroicWannabe: Wayne wants desperately to be a firefighter or ''some'' other type of hero to get girls.

* PrisonRape: Defied by the Governor when he's lashing out at the military for screwing up containment. He threatens to send them all to prison.

A 2001 sci-fi comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman (of ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'' fame), and released by Creator/ColumbiaPictures and Creator/{{Dreamworks}}.

%%%* ComedicSociopathy: Harry vs. the alien fly.
%%%* ContrivedCoincidence: The meteor hits smack-dab on the shed above a cavern.
%%%* CreatorProvincialism: Parodied (hopefully).

%%%%* DeadpanSnarker: Ira and Harry.

Glen Canyon, UsefulNotes/{{Arizona}}, ThePresentDay. Wayne Grey (Seann William Scott), practicing at night in the desert for his upcoming firefighter entrance exam, witnesses the impact of a meteor throw his truck 200 feet in the air and crash down. The next day, biology teacher Dr. Ira Kane (Creator/DavidDuchovny) and geology teacher Harry Block (Orlando Jones) from Glen Canyon Community College manage to get to the meteor, which has crash-landed at the bottom of a system of underground caverns. By taking a sample, they discover a slimy blue fluid coming out of the meteor.

A little later, Ira finds out that myriad single-celled life-forms dwell in the fluid, evolve at an incredible rate, even while he's watching. What first seems like a sure ticket to Sweden for the Nobel Prize soon develops into a nightmare: by evolving and adapting at that unbelievably fast rate, the aliens start spreading out, killing people, and the military -- led by General Woodman (Ted Levine), who's accompanied by epidemiologist Dr. Allison Reed (Creator/JulianneMoore) -- comes in. Now it all comes down to what [[UsefulNotes/CharlesDarwin Darwin]] so rightfully stated: Survival of the fittest...

* WhiteAndGreyMorality: While our heroes, Ira Kane, Harry Block, and Wayne Grey, are a RagtagBunchOfMisfits, they're still pretty decent people who nonetheless save the planet from certain destruction. The military indeed play an antagonistic role, but they're understandably holding a [[spoiler: failed]] quarantine over the aliens because of their threatening nature, and as mentioned in NonMaliciousMonster above, the aliens are simply hungry and confused animals.
** Averted in the [[WesternAnimation/AlienatorsEvolutionContinues animated sequel]], where while the PowerTrio and a 4th party member named Lt. Lucy Mai are still good, the aliens are straight-up malevolent invaders bent on destruction, turning the conflict into a case of BlackAndWhiteMorality.

** Averted in the animated adaptations where while Ira Kane, Harry Block, Wayne Grey, and a 4th party member named Lt. Lucy Mai are still good, the aliens are straight-up malevolent invaders bent on destruction.

* WhiteAndGreyMorality: On one hand, our heroes, Ira Kane, Harry Block, and Wayne Grey, are a RagingBunchOfMisfits who still save the planet from certain destruction. On the other hand, the military indeed play an antagonistic role, but they're understandably holding a (failed) quarantine over the aliens because of their threatening nature, and as mentioned in NonMaliciousMonster above, the aliens are simply hungry and confused animals.

* WhiteAndGreyMorality: On one hand, our heroes, Ira Kane, Harry Block, and Wayne Grey, are a group of college professors, a firefighter in training, and a pair of fat and dim-witted yet friendly guys. On the other hand, the military indeed play an antagonistic role, but they're understandably holding a (failed) quarantine over the aliens because of their threatening nature, and as mentioned in NonMaliciousMonster above, the aliens are simply hungry and confused animals.

* WhiteAndGreyMorality: On one hand, our heroes are a team of college professors, a firefighter in training, and a pair of fat and dim-witted yet friendly guys. On the other hand, the military indeed play an antagonistic role, but they're understandably holding a (failed) quarantine over the aliens because of their threatening nature, and as mentioned in NonMaliciousMonster above, the aliens are simply hungry and confused animals.
** Averted in the animated adaptations where while the heroes are still good, the aliens become straight-up malevolent invaders bent on destruction.

* WhiteAndGreyMorality: On one hand, our heroes are a team of college professors, a firefighter in training, and a pair of fat and dim-witted yet friendly guys. On the other hand, the military indeed play an antagonistic role, but they're understandably holing a (failed) quarantine over the aliens because of their threatening nature, and as mentioned in NonMaliciousMonster above, the aliens are simply hungry and confused animals.

** He later admits, though, "That doesn't make it right," expressing ''some'' sympathy for Cartwright.

** The aliens are supposed to be "[[YouFailBiologyForever nitrogen-based lifeforms]]." As anyone with a background in chemistry could tell you, this is extremely unlikely. However, they are [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothetical_types_of_biochemistry#Nitrogen_and_phosphorus_biochemistry theoretically entirely impossible]].

* SmartBall: The two guys who [[YouFailBiologyForever failed biology forever by confusing a prison cell with a biological cell]]? [[spoiler:They help save the day]].

* HaveANiceDaySmile: The movie poster features one of these with three eyes. It is also used for the movie's ViralMarketing, where the three-eyed smiley began appearing all over New York City in the months prior to the film's release, much like the ''Film/{{Ghostbusters}}'' "Coming To Save the World" poster was before ''that'' film's release.

* HaveANiceDaySmile: The movie poster features one of these with three eyes. It is also used for the movie's ViralMarketing, where the three-eyed smiley began appearing all over New York City in the months prior to the film's release.

'''Harry''': [[CrowningMomentOfFunny There's ALWAYS time for lubricant!]]

** Also, one of the bird calls that Wayne tries is "Aww-aww, ee-ee, tukki tukki!" from GeorgeOfTheJungle.
** The heroes discover that [[spoiler: selenium is toxic to the nitrogen-based alien lifeforms]]. Selenium was also one of the materials used by the evil architect Ivo Shandor to build 55 Central Park West (Dana Barrett's apartment building) in ''Film/{{Ghostbusters 1984}}''.

* NeverLiveItDown: [[InUniverse The Kane Madness.]] An anthrax vaccine that ''did'' immunize people against anthrax... at the cost of a ''month'' of [[LongList debilitating stomach cramps, severe diarrhea, memory loss, partial facial paralysis, temporary blindness, drooling, bleeding gums, erectile dysfunction, uncontrollable flatulence...]]

* ProductPlacement: Head & Shoulder's dandruff-killing formula [[spoiler:also happens to kill aliens. This is parodied after the end of the movie, where the actors do a cliched commercial with forced smiles. And Harry holding his bottle backwards]]. This was Ivan Reitman's son's idea.

** The aliens are supposed to be "[[YouFailBiologyForever nitrogen-based lifeforms]]." As anyone with a background in chemistry could tell you, this is extremely unlikely. However, they are[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothetical_types_of_biochemistry#Nitrogen_and_phosphorus_biochemistry theoretically entirely impossible]].

* AlienInvasion: Via superior adaptability.

* ApocalypseHow: Class 3.
* ArtisticLicenseBiology: {{Played for laughs}}. See below.
* ArtisticLicenseChemistry: The heroes [[spoiler:figure out the weakness of the nitrogen-based aliens by comparing arbitrary patterns on the Periodic Table of Elements. "Hmm, well, Arsenic is the weakness of carbon-based life-forms, and Arsenic is two down and one across from Carbon. So that means that the weakness of the nitrogen-based life-forms must also be two down and one across!"]] Of course, [[RuleOfFunny because this is]] [[PlayedForLaughs a comedy film]], [[BatDeduction the logic is perfectly sound]].

** Poor Harry becomes a ''literal'' example when he has to have an alien mosquito removed from his body rectally.
* AssShove: [[spoiler:They kill the ultimate alien with a shampoo enema administered via fire hose. Though it ''[[CrossesTheLineTwice sucks Harry into its ass for at least a minute before it dies]]'']].

* BiggerIsBetter: [[spoiler:One of the organisms, in response to being napalmed, becomes a HUGE amoeba-thing. With an ''anus''.]]

* CallASmeerpARabbit: For some reason, the lead characters refuse to call the obviously dragon/raptor-looking flying aliens that, and instead insist on calling them "birds." Maybe it's a case of NotUsingTheZWord, and they're not shown to be capable of breathing fire either.
** Earlier models of the dragon/raptor actually show it to look a lot more like a featherless oviraptor. Now that would have been weird.
** Perhaps models weren't complete until after the live-action filming. That would also explain why the creature that looks like a snub-nosed seal is mistaken for a dog.
* CameFromTheSky: How the aliens got to earth.
* CantGetAwayWithNuthin: In one scene, a shoplifter is wearing her stolen clothes under her already-worn ones. As she comes out of the dressing room, she's snatched away by the flying raptor. Once she's rescued, she vows never to shoplift again to a somewhat confused Harry.
** It's actually fortunate for her she was wearing the layers, as without them, the claws of the bird thing could have badly hurt her.
* [[ChekhovsGunman Chekhov's Gunmen]]: Deke and Danny.
* ComedicSociopathy: Harry vs. the alien fly.
* ContrivedCoincidence: The meteor hits smack-dab on the shed above a cavern.
* CreatorProvincialism: Parodied (hopefully).

* DeadpanSnarker: Ira and Harry.
* DumbassHasAPoint: The two biggest idiots in Ira's class end up saving the day in the end.
* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: [[spoiler:Shortly after the alien life-forms reach a simian stage of evolution, they get napalmed. And are crushed by one cell. These are the fastest and most violent things to come out of the ecosystem, in the short time they're seen before they're crushed.]]

* EverythingTryingToKillYou: Oddly enough ''{{averted}}'', given the type of movie it was. When Ira and Harry go down into the underground alien world, almost none of the creatures try to harm them. There was a carnivorous tree, but really the only one to go after anyone was that big mosquito.

* ForgottenFallenFriend: Nobody seems to care much about Lieutenant Cryer being taken away by the fuzzy no-nosed chimps. He isn't mentioned and no attempt is made by Woodman to rescue him. Not even the ostensible heroes bring him up.

* GenreSavvy: Harry knows the [[BlackDudeDiesFirst black guy dies first]].

* HaveANiceDaySmile: The movie poster features one of these with three eyes.
** Used for the movie's ViralMarketing, where the three-eyed smiley began appearing all over New York City in the months prior to the film's release.
* AHeadAtEachEnd: Sported by one of the first critters Ira and Harry encounter in the cavern's "bug period".
* HeroesWantRedheads: Harry insists this of Ira. [[spoiler: It turns out to be true.]]
* HeroicWannabe: Wayne, who wants desperately to be a firefighter or ''some'' other type of hero to get girls.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Ira and Harry, though Ira [[spoiler:does get the girl in the end]].
* HiddenDepths: Deke and Danny.
* HollywoodEvolution: The whole point.
* HotScientist: Allison or, for that matter, Ira or Harry, depending on one's gender/orientation.
* IgnoredExpert: Ira tries to warn Woodman that [[spoiler:[[KillItWithFire napalming the aliens]] may be a really bad idea]]. [[spoiler:And [[FeedItWithFire turns out to be right]]]].

* IWillFightSomeMoreForever
* JerkAss: General Woodman and his fellow army officers.
* KillerSpaceMonkey: ...but not for long enough to get any use from it.
** Literally comes in the form of three-eyed, no-nose, ape-like beings that are one of the last to breach the habitat seal.
* [[KillItWithFire Kill It With Napalm]]: [[spoiler:This ends [[FeedItWithFire so]], ''[[FeedItWithFire so]]'' [[FeedItWithFire badly]]...]]

* LifeOrLimbDecision: When Harry finds himself with an alien fly burrowing into his leg, he refuses to let the doctors amputate his leg until he hears that it's headed for his testicles.
** And then they decide to TakeAThirdOption and remove it rectally. That poor guy.

* MadeOfExplodium: [[spoiler:The final alien creature, after receiving an enema of anti-dandruff shampoo.]]
* MiracleGroMonster: This is why [[spoiler:napalm should not be used as a {{Kaiju}} attack Band-Aid]].
* MultipurposeTongue / NestedMouths: One creature that looks kind of like a green pig has this.

* NonMaliciousMonster: The aliens are hostile all right, but they're not evil. They are just lost and confused on a strange planet.

* OneHandedShotgunPump: Ira, Harry and Wayne do this after killing the first oxygen-tolerant alien.

* ProductPlacement: Head & Shoulder's dandruff-killing formula [[spoiler:also happens to kill aliens. This is parodied after the end of the movie, where the actors do a cliched commercial with forced smiles. And Harry holding his bottle backwards]].
** This was Ivan Reitman's son's idea.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits

* SequelHook: Oh so blatantly at the conclusion.
* ShoutOut: Take a long look at the head of the dragony thing. It closely resembles the head of the creature from Film/TheGiantClaw.

** The heroes discover that selenium is toxic to the nitrogen-based alien lifeforms. Selenium was also one of the materials used by the evil architect Ivo Shandor to build 55 Central Park West (Dana Barrett's apartment building) in ''Film/{{Ghostbusters 1984}}''.

** The earlier aliens do look pretty weird, but there's some pretty weird stuff in Earth's evolutionary history too; some of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgess_Shale_type_fauna Burgess Shale critters]] are pretty strange in their own right.
** They're supposed to be "[[YouFailBiologyForever nitrogen-based lifeforms]]." As anyone with a background in chemistry could tell you, this wouldn't work.
*** Sort of; nitrogen-based life-forms are unlikely, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothetical_types_of_biochemistry#Nitrogen_and_phosphorus_biochemistry but not theoretically entirely impossible]].
* SmallNameBigEgo: Somewhat {{subverted}}. Harry is well-aware that he's not on the same-level (scientifically) as Ira or Allison, but that doesn't stop him from milking what he does know for all it's worth.

* ThoseTwoGuys: Deke and Danny.
* ThrowTheDogABone: They handed in the worst science paper ever, copied off each other to boot. And are responsible for an EurekaMoment.

* WeaksauceWeakness: [[spoiler:''Shampoo'']].

* NeverLiveItDown: [[{{In-Universe}} The Kane Madness.]] An anthrax vaccine that ''did'' immunize people against anthrax... at the cost of a ''month'' of [[LongList debilitating stomach cramps, severe diarrhea, memory loss, partial facial paralysis, temporary blindness, drooling, bleeding gums, erectile dysfunction, uncontrollable flatulence...]]

Glen Canyon, UsefulNotes/{{Arizona}}, ThePresentDay. Wayne Grey (Seann William Scott), practicing at night in the desert for his upcoming firefighter entrance exam, witnesses the impact of a meteor. The next day, biology teacher Dr. Ira Kane (Creator/DavidDuchovny) and geology teacher Harry Block (Orlando Jones) from Glen Canyon Community College manage to get to the meteor, which is stuck in the ground at the bottom of an underground cave. By taking a sample, they discover a slimy blue fluid coming out of the meteor.

* AssShove: [[spoiler:They kill the ultimate alien with a shampoo enema administered via firehose. Though it ''[[CrossesTheLineTwice sucks Harry into its ass for at least a minute before it dies]]'']].

** Wayne suffers one, courtesy of his firehose falling and hitting him right in the crotch during his exam.

** The heroes discover that selenium is toxic the nitorgen-based alien lifeforms. Selenium was also one of the materials used by the evil architect Ivo Shandor to build 55 Central Park West (Dana Barrett's apartment building) in ''Film/{{Ghostbusters 1984}}''.

* SpiritualSuccessor: To the fisrt two ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'' films. Creator/DanAykroyd was unable to get his co-stars to do ''Ghostbusters III'', so ''Evolution'' was born.

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Evolution_movie.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Have a nice end of the world.]]

A little later, Ira finds out that myriad single-celled life-forms dwell in the fluid, evolve at an incredible rate, even while he's watching. What first seems like a sure ticket to Sweden for the Nobel Prize soon develops into a nightmare: by evolving and adapting at that unbelievably fast rate, the aliens start spreading out, killing people, and the military -- led by General Woodman (Ted Levine), who's accompanied by epidemiologist Dr. Allison Reed (Creator/JulianneMoore) -- comes in. Now it all comes down to what [[CharlesDarwin Darwin]] so rightfully stated: Survival of the fittest...

* SarcasmFailure: As the guys watch [[spoiler:an alien give birth to a newborn-which is able to thrive in the Earth's atmosphere--]]all Harry Block can do is shrug and say, "Mazel Tov! It's a boy!"

A 2001 sci-fi comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman (of ''Film/{{Ghostbusters}}'' fame), and released by Creator/ColumbiaPictures and Creator/{{Dreamworks}}.

** The heroes discover that selenium is toxic the nitorgen-based alien lifeforms. Selenium was also one of the materials used by the evil architect Ivo Shandor to build 55 Central Park West (Dana Barrett's apartment building) in ''Film/{{Ghostbusters}}''.

* SpiritualSuccessor: To ''Film/{{Ghostbusters}}''. Dan Aykroyd was unable to get his co-stars to do ''Ghostbusters III'', so ''Evolution'' was born.

** The heroes discover that selenium is toxic the nitorgen-based alien lifeforms. Selenium was also one of the materials used by the evil architect Ivo Shandor to build 55 Central Park West (Dana Barrett's apartment building) in ''Film/Ghostbusters''.