Liar Liar

Starring: Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney, Justin Cooper, Cary Elwes, Jennifer Tilly
Directed by: Tom Shadyac
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
1997

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: After Max (Justin Cooper) wishes his lawyer father (Jim Carrey) can't tell a lie for 24 hours comes true, his father suddenly finds himself unable to say anything but the truth- which threatens to wreck havoc during a big trial where his ability to lie is essential for him to win.

Review:

Tim: Jim Carrey has made some very bad movies over the years. If you added up all his poor films, you'd have a fairly decent list. However, he has also made some very solid movies. This is one of those. Liar Liar is a very good comedy, but it also has a fairly good message. I like films that can make the occasional crude joke but still have heart. This is one of those films.

Much of the film's success is due to Jim Carrey. Carrey can often be too over-the-top in his comedic performances, almost as if he is trying too hard to be funny and energetic. However, he is in perfect form here. He is a bouncing ball of comedic talent. The movie works because he throws every ounce of his energy into the movie. He is amazing to watch and accounts for some of the film's funniest moments. It seems like Carrey has turned it down a bit in recent years, so it is enjoyable to watch this movie and remember when he did everything full-tilt.

The supporting cast is good as well. Justin Cooper is very good as Carrey's son, and Maura Tierney adds in a good performance as Carrey's ex-wife. I really liked the casting of Cary Elwes in his role. It is a thankless role, but so vital to the movie. Elwes plays this role witht he same amount of passion and attention to detail as if he was going for major acting nominations. I was just glad to see he didn't decide to mail this one in.

Liar Liar works because it is so fun to watch Carrey blowing through this movie like a whirlwind. Best of all, the movie's strategy wasn't just to unleash Carrey and watch as he makes us laugh. Carrey is surrounded by an exceptional story, that keeps us engaged and delivers a pretty strong message about honesty, loyalty, and even throws in a bit of commentary about the damage workaholics can do to their families. This is not a perfect movie, but it does enough right to be a successful film.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7



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