I believe that Jim Carrey portrays variations of two main characterizations in all his films. Best known is his "psycho" character, such as Ace Ventura, Lloyd Christmas from Dumb and Dumber, and Fire Marshal Bill from "In Living Color." Carrey is understandably fond of this characterization, as it has brought him fame and fortune. Truth be told, Carrey's "psycho" is extremely funny (to most people, at least, it would seem). Since Carrey is possessed of almost balletic grace, he does get away with physical comedy and pratfalls that would flop when executed by anyone else (exhibits A, B, and C, your honor: Chris Farley, Pauly Shore, and Sinbad).
Carrey's other characterization is something I call the "lovable schmuck." Some roles along this line have been Fletcher Reede in Liar Liar, Mark Kendall in Once Bitten, and Skip Tarkenton on the television show "Duck Factory." Carrey has relied less often on this persona, perhaps because he used it in the latter two flops. But this characterization, to my mind, is not only just as funny as the "psycho," but much easier to take in large doses.
In The Mask, both personas are put to work with great success. As Stanley Ipkiss, Carrey is completely likable, a mild-mannered bank clerk who is always on the verge of tripping over his own feet. When he becomes the superhero the Mask, he cuts loose with the physical comedy one normally associated with him, aided by some nifty computer graphics. With a couple of exceptions, Carrey even remains on the side of good taste, a remarkable exception for the "psycho" character.
My main cavils about the film are, first, that as the Mask, Carrey speaks in a single harsh and loud tone that gets old really fast. Also, director Russell is not so tasteful as his star, throwing in a gratuitous dog-urination gag, as well as a lame sight-gag about audience members applauding Carrey's faux-Oscar speech. The film as a whole might have been a wonderful children's movie, but is on the whole, too violent.
But what I liked about it far outweighs what I disliked. As said earlier, Carrey is very good, handing in his best performance to date (not a lot of competition for that honor, though I do look forward to The Truman Show and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty). Richard Jeni is also quite funny, if a bit too much of the stand-up comedian, as Carrey's friend. Peter Greene makes a quietly loony villain, though not a major-league one. Cameron Diaz is almost absurdly sexy as the "love interest." It is easy to understand the Mask's reaction to her as she sings and dances wearing a dress that is far too small for what she puts into it. Imagine Jessica Rabbit in three dimensions. Peter Riegert, the star of one of my all-time favorite films, Local Hero, disappoints here as a police lieutenant tracking down the Mask. Except for one brief line in Pig Latin, everything he does here is flat and uninspired.
There is said to be a sequel to The Mask in the works. Although I hope for the best, I both suspect and fear that it will disappoint. I am betting that the geniuses in Hollywood will associated the film's success with the use of computer graphics. Absolutemente no! The computer graphics had their part, but the real pleasures of the film were the two performances of Jim Carrey as well as an enjoyable script and supporting cast. Please, please, oh please, get it right.
Three-and-a-half stars
Copyright 1997 by Dale G. Abersold
