The Mask

Starring: Jim Carrey, Peter Riegert, Peter Greene, Amy Yasbeck, Cameron Diaz, Ben Stein
Directed by: Chuck Russell
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Action, Adventure
1994

Times Seen:
Tim: 3

Summary: An average nobody (Jim Carrey) finds a strange mask that transforms him into a masked menace, doing whatever he wants with no worries or concerns. However, things change when a mobster (Peter Greene) tries to use the mask for his own evil purposes.

Review:

Tim: There are certain movies that you probably shouldn't like, but can't help it. That is how I feel about The Mask. It is easy to criticize this film as a lightweight comedy, although I would disagree. I think this is an innovative, unique, entertaining movie that works on multiple levels. It is a very funny, enjoyable comedy, and one of the funnier movies of the 1990s.

As you might expect, this film works because of Jim Carrey. He is really in his element here, showing off his likeable charisma that makes him such a star. He is so fun to watch as Stanley Ipkiss, a pushover "nice" guy with no real backbone. This character is believable enough, though, that he seems like a real guy and not a caricature. This makes it even more effective when The Mask comes out. The special effects are pretty astounding, and it's no surprise that this film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects. The makeup of Carrey's mask is pretty incredible, and it is almost impossible to turn away. The green color is perfect, and Carrey uses the mask to unleash his inner insanity, much to our delight.

The supporting cast is good, too. I really enjoyed Peter Riegert as a detective, and I wish he had more screen time. He's an enjoyable actor, and I wish he'd had a better career. I liked Peter Greene as the antagonist, giving a memorable performance as the film's villain. Special mention has to be made for the feature film debut of Cameron Diaz. Diaz would grow increasingly tiring to me later in her career, but she is fantastic here. She just exploded on screen as this fresh newcomer, bringing beauty and energy to the film. Her dance number is unforgettable, and she works well with Carrey. This was a very impressive debut for Diaz, and it really helped set her up for a long and successful career.

I also have to mention Milo the dog, one of the most adorable animals and best canine performances I've ever seen. Milo is stunning, and represents one of my favorite aspects of the film. I desperately wanted a dog like Milo. His scene of stealing the keys from the police officer is one of the most impressive trained dog sequences I have ever seen. The work here was terrific, and it added greatly to the film.

There are so many funny moments and memorable lines. Carrey delivers so many of these that I can't even begin to list them. His Stanley Ipkiss is so mild and meek, that the transformation into the Mask is pretty startling. This performance required quite a range from Carrey, and he delivers exceptionally. He was terrific here, and made this movie what it was.

The Mask is a very funny comedy, and one of the most entertaining, enjoyable films of the 90s. Like many comedies, this film has some flaws and is a bit uneven. There are some moments near the end where the film dragged, and the climactic scenes are a bit weak. However, for the most part, this is a solid comedy.


Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Liar Liar, Batman Forever, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, The Cable Guy