Synopsis
Newly elected to Congress, Evan has left Buffalo behind to shepherd his wife, Joan (LAUREN GRAHAM, television's Gilmore Girls, Bad Santa), and three sons -- Dylan (JOHNNY SIMMONS, My Ambition), Jordan (GRAHAM PHILLIPS, The Ten Commandments: The Musical) and Ryan (JIMMY BENNETT, Firewall) -- to the suburban town of Huntsville, Virginia, where they will begin the next chapter of their lives.
As the Baxters become ensconced in their enormous home nestled within the pristine hills of northern Virginia, Evan prepares for his first day on the job as the freshman congressman from New York. The casually spiritual politico offers a prayer to God to "change the world." Little does he know that The Man upstairs already has big plans for him.
Invited to co-sponsor a high-profile bill by one of the House's most powerful members, Congressman Long (JOHN GOODMAN, The Big Lebowski, television's Roseanne), Evan is sure that his prayers have been answered. His crackerjack team of aides -- assistant Rita (WANDA SYKES, Monster-in-Law, Clerks II), chief of staff Marty (JOHN MICHAEL HIGGINS, The Break-Up, Fun With Dick and Jane) and intern Eugene (JONAH HILL, Accepted, Knocked Up) -- couldn't be more thrilled at this opportunity, although Evan realizes it will take him away from his oft-neglected family. However conflicted, power is important to Evan, and so he accepts the offer.
Almost immediately, odd things begin occurring, and the self-centered representative's life becomes officially turned upside down. From mysterious deliveries of ancient tools and large parcels of wood to curious stalkings by birds of every feather, Evan is certain he's losing it. His certain descent into comic confusion culminates with a visit from a tall stranger claiming to be God who has one simple, albeit ludicrous, command: Evan must build an ark to prepare his friends and family for a mighty flood.
With the help of his three boys and armed with a first edition "Ark Building for Dummies," Evan begrudgingly begins to build the ship, not knowing what's in store once it's completed. To his utter dismay, animals of all shapes and sizes begin appearing two by two, until a menagerie of God's creatures inhabits the wooded forest surrounding his home.
That's not the only thing changing. Evan's normally manicured appearance heads south as his befuddled wife observes him transforming into a barely recognizable bearded, longhaired, robe-wearing weirdo. No amount of trimming, tussling or trickery keeps the beard from growing...and growing.
Despite being on the verge of losing everything he previously held precious, Evan continues to build for the flood that will either destroy the land or prove to be a figment of his imagination. And while all around him shake their heads and stare, one man must discover whether he is having an extraordinary midlife crisis or is truly onto something of biblical proportions...
