"Evan Almighty," the lame sequel to the 2003 blockbuster "Bruce Almighty," loves to repeat its jokes.

Think seeing someone hammer their thumb is funny?

You'll see the gag repeated about a half-dozen times in the 88-minute film.

Bust a gut when you see someone get hit with bird droppings?

If you see a bird fly over a major character in "Evan Almighty," you can be assured that soon after that character will be wiping bird goop off their person.

Flat, predictable jokes aren't the only things that sink this $175 million project, which makes the film the most expensive comedy in movie history.

To go along with the bad jokes, the movie includes some awkward performances, lethargic story telling and some surprisingly cheesy-looking special effects when you consider the boatloads of money the producers spent on the film.

The movie follows the further adventures of television news anchor Evan Baxter (Steve Carell), Jim Carrey's nemesis in "Bruce Almighty." Apparently recovered from his run-in with Bruce, Evan has left television journalism for a seat in the U.S. Congress.

The movie opens as he moves his wife (Lauren Graham) and three sons into a Washington, D.C. suburb and starts his new job at the Capitol. But before Evan even settles in, he's visited by God (Morgan Freeman), who orders the understandably reluctant congressman to build an ark. When pairs of animals show up at his house and start to follow Evan everywhere he goes, he quickly figures out he's the modern-day Noah.

That premise — a 21st century guy building an ark by the order of God — should have been inspired. But because director Tom Shadyac and screenwriter Steve Oedekerk resort to using such obvious gags, the movie quickly becomes tiresome.

Not helping matters is the film's preachy tone on protecting the environment and the importance of spending time with your family. The movie is about as subtle as a slap to the side of the head on both issues.

For his part, Carell tries his best to bring some life to the role as the modern-day Noah. But even the funny actor can't do much with his character when he's forced to don a robe and wear a white beard that makes him look like he stepped out of a particularly bad church passion play.

Among the supporting cast, only Wanda Sykes makes an impression as Evan's wise-cracking congressional aide. Even the usually reliable John Goodman gives a flat performance as a corrupt congressman who wants Evan to co-sponsor a land-use bill.

"Evan Almighty" ends with a huge flood, of course, but by the time that big wave comes, you'll be wishing all that water could wash you out of the theater so the movie can finally end.

PG for mild rude humor and some peril.