The Mask

Not as good as I remember, still an amusing watch regardless. It's been many, many years since I last watched <em>'The Mask'</em>, hence why I hadn't had it logged on here before now, and while it isn't as funny or as quotable as I thought it would be (I remember really liking it as a kid), there is still enough in there that I got much entertainment from. Jim Carrey's performance is superb, without him you'd have a very cringe and ultimately disappointing flick. Interesting to note that he did this, <em>'Ace Ventura: Pet Detective'</em> and <em>'Dumb and Dumber'</em> (which I gotta see at some point!) all in 1994 - quite the year! Peter Greene and Peter Riegert are also involved, though it's very much the debuting Cameron Diaz that is the best of the rest behind Carrey. Apparently this had a sequel released in 2005, <em>'Son of the Mask'</em>. On paper it should be awful, so therefore I gotta go check it out!

Jim Carrey is the drippy bank-clerk "Ipkiss" who is always looking for love but who never seems to make much progress. Then one night he spots something floating in the river. Thinking it's a man, he goes to the rescue but it turns out to just be a mask that we know has recently been released from a locked casket deep beneath the waves. He takes it home, and whilst inspecting it soon realises that it can attach itself to his face and turn him into a suave and witty character (albeit with a bright green face) who has no difficulty exuding the charm. That's handy because we are now introduced to the charming "Tina" (Cameron Diaz) so maybe the mask can help him woo her? The thing about this mask, though, is that it has a mischievous streak - it's enables it's users desires both good and bad, too, and of course it isn't long before the police "Kellaway" (Peter Riegert) are on the case as the mask brings out the conflicting side of it's owner's personality and some trouble beckons. It's an adequate vehicle for Carrey and he owns the show from start to finish. He's charismatic and entertaining but I just never found him funny. His presentation of humour is just too brash and in your face. There's nothing remotely subtle or sophisticated about it, and though it is lively and really doesn't hang around at all, I found it just a bit too repetitious and after about twenty minutes it reminded me of "Bugsy Malone" (1976) only without the custard pies. Like Steve Martin, Jim Carrey's style of comedy just didn't hit the spot for me, and though this is certainly one of his better efforts and Diaz adds a star quality to the affair, it's all just a little too pantomime slick for me.

Fun fantasy-comedy that utilizes Jim Carrey's physicality, and comedic timing, to the extreme and while some of the jokes didn't land and the mask himself (both Stanley and Dorian) was a bit ridiculous, even within the confines of this universe, still found it to be entertaining enough, plus it is Cameron Diaz's feature debut... **3.5/5**