I'll never forget the first time I saw the name "Jim Carrey". It was a T.V. commercial for a movie in early 1994. But the second time I remember seeing that name forever cemented it in my memory.
I was eight going on nine, at a babysitter's house, when the same movie was playing on VHS. I was sitting close to the T.V. when the opening scene of footsteps walking towards the camera in slow-motion came up, before panning up to reveal a goofy UPS postman, the name Jim Carrey stamped against it.
The movie was Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. The rest was comedy history.
Out of any other leading actor in comedy at the time (Robin Williams, Mike Myers, and Adam Sandler come to mind as well), Carrey was the one who made me love comedy, and who influenced me the most in making people laugh, whether through imitations, physical slapstick, or various facial expressions.
I looked forward to any new film of his from there on, sometimes much to my parents' dismay. And although I'm a lot more discerning these days regarding some of his more crude comedy choices (close fans and filmgoers will know what I'm talking about), and despite some controversial headlines the actor-comedian has made in some recent years (particularly his role as a political cartoonist, as well as his worldviews), he remains an influential figure in film and in comedy, and has proven more versatile than people give him credit for. (His other memorable roles include a shape-shifting superhero, an enigmatic Batman villain, a psychotic cable installer, a compulsive fibbing lawyer, two Dr. Seuss characters, Scrooge, and even Andy Kaufman.)
I looked forward to any new film of his from there on, sometimes much to my parents' dismay. And although I'm a lot more discerning these days regarding some of his more crude comedy choices (close fans and filmgoers will know what I'm talking about), and despite some controversial headlines the actor-comedian has made in some recent years (particularly his role as a political cartoonist, as well as his worldviews), he remains an influential figure in film and in comedy, and has proven more versatile than people give him credit for. (His other memorable roles include a shape-shifting superhero, an enigmatic Batman villain, a psychotic cable installer, a compulsive fibbing lawyer, two Dr. Seuss characters, Scrooge, and even Andy Kaufman.)
His initial characters showcased his physical and energetic abilities in making people laugh (like the deranged Fire Marshall Bill on the Wayans' sketch comedy series In Living Color), while others displayed real thought and perspective, if divisive and conflicted at times. (Nowhere is this latter example best discussed or expressed than in the 2017 Netflix documentary Jim and Andy, which chronicles Carrey's behind-the-scenes drama and preparation in playing Andy Kaufman in Milos Forman's 1999 film Man on the Moon, while also juxtaposing Carrey's life with that of the late controversial comedian.)
So, in honor of the 25th anniversary of Carrey's breakout year in 1994, here is a look back at some of his most unforgettable roles (there are so many, to be honest, but here are those that really stand out), and proof that there will only ever be one Jim Carrey, rubber face and all. As the famous pet detective's tagline reads,
So, in honor of the 25th anniversary of Carrey's breakout year in 1994, here is a look back at some of his most unforgettable roles (there are so many, to be honest, but here are those that really stand out), and proof that there will only ever be one Jim Carrey, rubber face and all. As the famous pet detective's tagline reads,
"He's the best there is. (Actually, he's the only one there is.)"
Again, these earlier films were a showcase for Carrey's unique, outrageous, and physically (or facially) expressive brand of comedy. Ace Ventura (reportedly influenced by birds a la Anthony Hopkins influenced by reptiles for Hannibal Lecter) was the stepping stone, with his facial expressions, impressions, wacky antics (who could forget doing an "instant replay" in "super slow-mo," complete with black boots and a pink tutu), unforgettable one-liners, and over-the-top humor, including (pardon me) talking through his rear end. With this first of three collaborations with first-time director Tom Shadyac (they later collaborated on the 1997 legal comedy Liar Liar, and the 2003 spiritual comedy Bruce Almighty), Carrey has stated his intent was to make fun of the "leading man," as an animal sleuth on the case to find the Miami Dolphins' missing mascot. Carrey reprised the role the following year (a career decision he reportedly regretted) for the more over-the-top and hysterical sequel Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.
Mild-mannered bank clerk Stanley Ipkuss dons an ancient mask with the powers of the mischivous Norse God Loki (long before Tom Hiddleston immortalized said character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe) and transforms into a shape-shifting "love-crazy, wild man." Considered by many, in retrospect, as "the original Deadpool" (with his fourth wall breaks and pop culture savvy), The Mask was an unlikely success in the comic book-to-film medium (following Warner Bros' Batman and New Line's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). Compared with the more violent and horrific source material (no joke), the movie version is light-hearted, but maintains a dark and retro atmosphere. Carrey's wild and crazy antics are brought to additional life by revolutionary visual effects that still hold up courtesy Industrial Light & Magic, as an homage to Tex Avery cartoons of the 1940s. One of the first movies I ever remember learning about VFX, and perhaps the best example of a human cartoon.
Side note: the color green played other subtle yet key roles for Carrey when he later portrayed the Grinch (the 2000 film directed by Ron Howard. with award-winning makeup by Rick Baker) and comic book characters the Riddler (1995's Batman Forever) and Colonel Stars and Stripes (2013's Kick-Ass 2, another career decision Carrey reportedly regrets).
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
As Lloyd Christmas, Carrey struck up a golden comedy duo with versatile actor Jeff Daniels (as Harry Dunn), as two dim-witted best friends on a cross-country quest to return a stolen briefcase to a beautiful woman, in one of the funniest (and most off-color) comedies ever made. This brilliant on-screen chemistry is the spark that makes the film work and, as Carrey claimed in an interview with James Lipton, "gave the film credibility". Even Daniels admitted that working on this film was a highlight in his own career. Furthermore, the unforgettable road trip/buddy journey (in an "84 sheep dog," no less), as simple and ridiculous as it seems, turns out to be ironic and unpredictable, with some scenes more offensive and off-color than others. Ditto its many convoluted situations and subplots which influenced several "smart-dumb" comedies of the 90s and 2000s, including subsequent movies by the Farrelly Brothers.
"Let's Get Real"
Comedian and former talk show host Jay Leno once joked about the basic premise of Liar Liar, which centers on a fast-talking, compulsive lawyer (Fletcher Reed), whose son makes a wish on his fifth birthday that his dad will stop lying for 24 hours. Joked Leno, "Boy, you thought there were a lot of special effects in Independence Day." Director Tom Shadyac (who previously directed Eddie Murphy in the 1996 remake The Nutty Professor) reteamed with Carrey and both successfully transitioned into more grounded-but-still-hysterical territory with the story of a family man who is forced to reconsider where his career choices have taken him and how far they've taken him from his personal life, as well as what it means to really be honest (which can be brutal and relieving at different times). The results (though often crude) find the actor-comedian at his most comedic grounded self. That doesn't mean the film is without some typical Carrey hallmarks: outrageous physical humor (including an office battle with a "royal blue" pen and a bathroom brawl with himself), and silly voices and expressions. The difference is that Carrey plays a real character affected by extraordinary circumstances, as both a curse and an eventual blessing. Plus, the way he portrays high pressure when trying to suppress himself and then saying the wrong (or rather, the honest) thing, and then being affected by it, is a riot. And the funnyman arguably wouldn't have made the subtle transition to his next film had it not been for Liar Liar.
And now the role that proved Carrey was, like Steve Martin and Robin Williams before him, as strong with drama as he was with comedy. In The Truman Show, he plays Truman Burbank, a naive insurance clerk who is unaware that his entire life has been broadcast on television. An intriguing if haunting precursor to the reality t.v. frenzy of the last two decades, the film's satirizing of social media and its impact on the general population (ditto themes of voyeurism, media moguls, and controlling creative minds) is both remarkable and thought-provoking. Director Peter Weir (Witness, Dead Poets Society) allows Carrey to show off a more vulnerable side, and empathy for a character who questions the meaning of the world and the people around him, as well as what is real and what is not.
Carrey showed, perhaps, his most serious and committed performance as Joel Barrish, a man who decides to have memories of his girlfriend (Kate Winslet, equally engrossing) erased after she goes through the same procedure. Written by offbeat screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (1999's Being John Malkovich, 2002's Adaptation) and music video director Michel Gondry (The White Stripe's "Fell In Love With a Girl"), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a daring and creative perspective on human romance, love, and the bitter hole (complete with angst and heartbreak) that such decisions leave on people's minds and hearts. Perhaps Carrey has never barred so much of his heart and mind than in here. (In "Film FreeQ"s inaugural year of existence, this was one of the first films I thoroughly reviewed and discussed.)
"In case I don't see you, good afternoon, good evening, and good night."
~Truman Burbank
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