It’s Jim Carrey‘s birthday! To mark the occasion, here are five performances from the acclaimed comedic and dramatic actor. Check some of these out!
Yes Man (2008)
This film could be considered by some to be Jim Carrey‘s “comeback” movie. I was kind of wary about watching this movie when it first came out because he had previously released a string of box office disappointments as well as being disappointed that he chose to take a step back from the limelight for so many years. I was convinced that he had lost his comedic edge and chose not to watch this in the theaters. However, I have come to realize that when Jim Carrey wants to step back into the spotlight, it’s something worth paying attention to. a film that I would argue could be considered one of the best movies of his entire filmography, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s able to stand the test of time due to the universal message that this film conveys more than what the movie’s plot is actually about: never be afraid of saying “Yes” to Life, but it’s also important when to say “No”, as well.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
This was the first Jim Carrey movie I ever saw. Looking back, I can honestly say that I didn’t understand what this movie’s plot was truly about until I watched it again as an adult. All I saw was zaney, kooky, wild and out-of-control maniac who utilized physical comedy in a way I had never seen before and that is exactly what kept my attention. Sure, the whole “Finkle is Einhorn, Einhorn is Finkle” revelation hasn’t aged well and could be considered to be a little problematic, (especially in this day and age), but it’s still a fun watch nonetheless — and remember: “Laces Out!”
The Mask (1994)
It’s weird to think of this as a comic book movie but that’s exactly what it is, and as much as I would love to compare it to the source material, the truth is I haven’t bothered to check it out. Jim Carrey continues his slapstick schtick that garnered him the so-called reputation of being an “over-actor”. This is exactly the movie that needs to get pointed to whenever a film gets described as “dumb fun” because that’s exactly what it is. In fact, it’s more than a little silly but it’s also nothing more than mindless entertainment and that’s the mindset you need to have in order to truly enjoy it.
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
It’s amazing when an actor is able to find success after years of trying to break into the industry. What’s even more amazing is how Jim Carrey was able to do it not only twice, but three times in a row — in the same year! It’s difficult to put all the success of this film on Jim Carrey because a lot of the humor in this film also comes from his co-star Jeff Daniels, (who deserves credit in his own right), but it’s easy to come to the conclusion that the success of this film was due to Jim Carrey‘s rising stardom at the time. I’m not particularly fond of the third act of this film but it’s still absolutely hilarious and holds up all of these years later.
Batman Forever (1995)
Say what you will about this movie — and so will I — but it’s nowhere near as bad as it’s been made out to be. Don’t get me wrong; it’s nowhere as good as it should be but I don’t put any blame on Jim Carrey for its reputation. However, I’ve never felt that Jim Carrey was playing The Riddler. Not in the way he’s portrayed in the comics, at least. I used to shake my head when people used to say that nobody would play The Riddler like Jim Carrey, because that’s not true. What they’re really saying is that nobody can play Jim Carrey like Jim Carrey — and that’s the truth. Regardless, I do enjoy this movie but I only watch it when I’m on a Jim Carrey binge and that’s the extent of where my love for this movie begins and ends
What are some of your favorite films featuring birthday boy Jim Carrey?