Ever since I first saw
Ace Ventura I've been a huge Jim Carrey fan. His hyper-acting is different than anything we have seen before, and while it's not for everyone, it's certainly for me. So, here's a highlight of
Jim Carrey movies.
In 1985 he starred in a vampire movie called
Once Bitten. I saw this movie at least ten years after it came out, and it's been at least ten years since, so... I don't really remember it. I remember thinking it was a little crude at times.
1986 brought
Peggy Sue Got Married. I've only seen parts of this movie, and Jim Carrey's part is small. So, let's skip this one.
In 1994 he finally made his mark with
Ace Ventura. The world came to know him as this wacky guy who talked with his butt and said lines we're all deathly tired of now. Up until I saw the beginning of this movie, I had never laughed so hard during a movie. This movie is a marvelous example of comedic cinema. If I were to teach a class on how to write a comedy, I'd show this movie. It's a great example of its genre. Each movie should show you what genre it is during the first scene. If you're watching a comedy and not laughing within five minutes, leave the theater.
Later the same year he made
The Mask. If you must know, this movie is horrible, although it's widely appreciated and brought us Cameron Diaz.
Still later that year we got
Dumb and Dumber, which taught us that stupid people are hilarious. This movie is somewhat Inspector Gadget, (their blunders are often fortuitous,) but that's okay.
1995 brought
Batman Forever and while this is Tommy Lee Jones's worst work ever, I do like Jim Carrey's Riddler. I mean, Magic Mountain made a ride because of it. I know, we all hate those Batmans, but this one is my favorite out of the 4... probably because of Jim Carrey.
Then later that year we get
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls. I almost like this sequel more than the first one. Not all comedy sequels work because we're usually tired by the one liners, "Not," but this one works because they brought in enough new jokes and added elements to his character that made him alive. (He doesn't love
all animals. He's not completely predictable.)
1996 brought
The Cable Guy. I couldn't sit through this movie. I'm sorry. I know people like it.
1997 introduced
Liar Liar and for the first time in a long time we get a more normal, realistic version of Jim Carrey. Instead of being an outrageous character in a normal circumstance, he's a normal character in an outrageous circumstance. It's a different type of movie; it's more serious. And I like it.
1998 brought
The Truman Show which is more drama than comedy, but cute and slightly fun.
'99 brought
Man on the Moon and I found his performance as Andy Kaufman Oscar-worthy.
In 2000 we got
Me, Myself and Irene. I don't remember it very well.
I never saw 2000's
How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or '04's
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, or '07's
The Number 23, or '08's
Horton Hears a Who, or '09's
I Love You Phillip Morris, or anything after
Yes Man, FYI.
But in '01 I did make the mistake of seeing
The Majestic. It wasn't a comedy, and I do not have to like it.
However in '03 our faith in Jim Carrey was rewarded and we got
Bruce Almighty. Again, it was a movie where he was a normal guy in a crazy situation. This one is one of my favorites.
2004 brought
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, and I was bored.
We got
Fun with Dick and Jane in 2005. It was somewhat entertaining, but he was not a crazy character, and he was not in a "crazy" situation. The funniest part was his Spanish-speaking kid screaming about his "telemundo."
In 2008 we got
Yes Man and again we had a movie with Jim Carrey as a normal guy who is put into a crazy situation, however it's not
that crazy, and he's not
that insane, and in fact, he hooks up with a woman who is far too young for him and it's disgusting, although entertaining. Not his best work, but not his worst.
