Canuck-born actor Jim Carrey turns 50 today and it’s probably safe to say that as film careers go, his will go down as one of the brightest and most eclectic in Hollywood history. How bright is Carrey? Well, as with anything in film, that’s completely subjective but we’re willing to give it the old college try.
Herewith, our picks for the three best – and three worst – Jim Carrey movies in the canon, even if choosing the latter is kind of like shooting fish in a barrel. Face it: when our boys is good, he’s good and when he’s bad he’s awful. Still, we want your input: did we hit the mark… or miss it by a mile? Polls for both categories are below.
The 3 Best Jim Carrey Movies…
1. The Truman Show (1998) People like to point to Carrey’s full-on inhabitation of guerilla comic Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon as the apex of his acting chops but IMHO convincingly broadcasting innocence is much harder that marshalling bat-shit craziness. Watching Carrey’s Truman gradually come to realize the extent to which his life has been hijacked by others for gain is a revelation. 2. The Cable Guy (1996) Yes, yes, I know Carrey was infamously paid a record-breaking $20M for his role as the eponymous unhinged technician to Matthew Broderick’s tightly wound Steven M. Kovacs… and he was worth every penny. The apparently improvised scene at the Medieval Times restaurant, where Carrey channels Hannibal Lecter while Broderick – gamely trying to suppress uncontrollable laughter and pretty much failing – is pure cinematic gold. 3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) Carrey made me believe to my very core that his Joel adored Kate Winslet’s Clementine, fully transcending himself and his status as Jim Carrey, Hollywood Actor™. Once again, Carrey channels tenderness and vulnerability with the precision only a comedian can muster.
1. Bruce Almighty (2003) It had funny moments, and Jennifer Aniston and Morgan Freeman gave solid support, but the film’s arch and downright sneaky religiosity tacked onto the end marred the good that came before. Carrey should have leveraged his clout and fought back harder against that. 2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) Hardly a surprising choice but a solid one just the same. Reviled on release, this misguided live-action remake of the beloved Dr. Seuss classic was wrong in every conceivable way, representing the kind of film agents should get fired over. 3. The Mask (1994) The Mask feels less like a movie than a highly orchestrated series of set-ups designed to illustrate Carrey’s rubber-faced antics. Yeah, we get it: he’s craaazy. Plus it’s aged horribly, something that just doesn’t happen with classics.
Herb, Faulty Towers is not a film it was a tv show starring John Cleese and yes, is still hilarious to this day. The Mask was a very funny movie but I thought the scene in Liar Liar where he beats himself up in the washroom was one of the funniest things he has ever done. Too bad the movie got ruined by sappy crap at the end. The Cable Guy was disliked by a lot of people because it was just too dark and creepy. I loved The Truman Show. You forgot to mention The Majestic or Mr. Majestic, I forget the title. I ran right after 9/11 and they advertised it by having Carey sit in a chair telling everyone how people needed to feel good right now...etc.
Dumb and Dumber and Faulty Towers are the funniest films I have ever seen in my lifetime. In both I rolled on the floor and thought I would die from laughter.
Truman Show is really good. But I haven't seen the other 2. I absolutely love Ace Ventura Pet Detective (hilarious). And I agree with Liar Liar. That has to be up there too. I don't like Dumb and Dumber very much. And I like The Mask. I just find Jim so funny. But he's awesome on the serious side too. Number 23 was a freaky movie and it was great to see him get unhinged.
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Herb, Faulty Towers is not a film it was a tv show starring John Cleese and yes, is still hilarious to this day. The Mask was a very funny movie but I thought the scene in Liar Liar where he beats himself up in the washroom was one of the funniest things he has ever done. Too bad the movie got ruined by sappy crap at the end. The Cable Guy was disliked by a lot of people because it was just too dark and creepy. I loved The Truman Show. You forgot to mention The Majestic or Mr. Majestic, I forget the title. I ran right after 9/11 and they advertised it by having Carey sit in a chair telling everyone how people needed to feel good right now...etc.
Posted by: spyke | 01/20/2012 at 03:48 PM
Dumb and Dumber and Faulty Towers are the funniest films I have ever seen in my lifetime. In both I rolled on the floor and thought I would die from laughter.
Posted by: Herb | 01/19/2012 at 12:32 PM
eternal sunshine was just an amazing movie. I always knew him as a funny man but his performance in sunshine shattered all my expectations of him.
Posted by: sleeps | 01/19/2012 at 12:19 PM
Truman Show is really good. But I haven't seen the other 2. I absolutely love Ace Ventura Pet Detective (hilarious). And I agree with Liar Liar. That has to be up there too. I don't like Dumb and Dumber very much. And I like The Mask. I just find Jim so funny. But he's awesome on the serious side too. Number 23 was a freaky movie and it was great to see him get unhinged.
Posted by: Devil Spice | 01/19/2012 at 11:19 AM
Earth Girls Are Easy - overlooked as usual!
Posted by: Thearger | 01/19/2012 at 10:58 AM
'Liar Liar' has to rank up there with one of Carrey's best comedies.
Posted by: Darrell | 01/18/2012 at 10:51 PM
I LOVED Number 23 and Me Myself and Irene
Posted by: carole | 01/17/2012 at 07:55 PM
EXACTLY!! Dumb and Dumber and Ace Ventura 2 should be around the top ...Classics!
Posted by: dave | 01/17/2012 at 03:34 PM
Sorry Dumb and Dumber has to be top 3.
Posted by: jimmer | 01/17/2012 at 02:57 PM