What the Hell Happened to Jim Carrey?

In the 1990’s, Jim Carrey was the king of comedy.  He made headlines when he cashed a $20 million dollar paycheck for The Cable Guy after an impressive string of box office successes.  For a while, he seemed poised to make the transition from comedy to drama with movies like The Truman Show and Man on the Moon.  There was even talk that Ace Ventura could one day win an Oscar.  But eventually, Carrey’s winning streak ended.  The dramatic roles dried up and Carrey was reduced to being a supporting player or starring in bland children’s movies.

What the hell happened?

Carrey came from humble beginnings.  He was the youngest of four kids in a French Canadian Catholic family.  His father was a musician who took on a regular job to care for his kids.  His mother was chronically ill.  Things went from bad to worse when Carrey’s dad lost his job.  The entire family was forced to work full time in order to pay the bills.  Carrey dropped out of school at the age of 15 and worked with the rest of his family in janitorial jobs.  They lived out of a van.   He has said he was an angry teen who carried a baseball bat so he could work out his anger.

With the support of his dad, Carrey began experimenting with stand-up comedy.  His early performances (which consisted mostly of impressions) did not go over well and Carrey considered quitting.  But when his family’s financial situation improved, Carrey decided to continue pursuing comedy.  Eventually, he caught the eye of Rodney Dangerfield.  Dangerfield was well-known for taking young comedians under his wing.  He made Carrey his opening act during his touring shows and eventually brought Carrey to Las Vegas.

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Carrey turned his attention towards TV and movies.  He auditioned for the 1980-81 season of Saturday Night Live.  But Carrey was not cast.  In 1982, he started appearing on TV shows like  An Evening at the Improv.  In 1983, he lived every comedian’s dream of appearing on The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson.

Carrey began popping in up all kinds of low-budget movies in 1983.  The Sex and Violence Family Hour was a sketch comedy:

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Jim Carrey – Rubber Face – 1983

In Rubberface, Carrey played a struggling stand-up comic.  It was originally titled Introducing Janet, but the title was changed to Rubberface for the video release after Carrey’s success.

carrey - all in good taste
Jim Carrey – All in Good Taste – 1983

Carrey also appeared in the Canadian film, All in Good Taste.  It was filmed in 1981 but not shown in theaters until 1983.  Despite his prominence on the cover of the video, Carrey’s role is small and he has no lines.

carrey - copper-mountain
Jim Carrey – Copper Mountain – 1983

Carrey starred opposite future talk show host and Growing Pains dad, Alan Thicke, in the teen sex comedy, Copper Mountain.  Half of the movie consists of musical performances by artists such as Rita Coolidge and the other half is essentially an infomercial about the now-closed Club Med village at the U.S. ski resort at Copper Mountain, Colorado.

carrey - finders keepers
Jim Carrey – Finders Keepers – 1984

Carrey appeared in director Richard Lester’s madcap comedy. Finders Keepers.  Michael O’Keefe (Danny Noonan from Caddyshack) starred as a con-man on the run.  He steals a coffin from a train and poses as a soldier bringing a fallen comrade home.  But the coffin is actually loaded with $5 million dollars which several zany characters are after.  Carrey plays the soldier who is supposed to be in the coffin but is actually still alive.

Finders Keeps costarred Beverly D’Angelo, Louis Gossett Jr. and Brian Dennehy.

carrey - duck factory
Jim Carrey – The Duck Factory – 1984

In 1984, Carrey starred in the NBC sit-com, The Duck Factory.  Carrey played a young animator at a studio known for “The Dippy Duck Show”.  The show premiered on Thursday night after Cheers in Buffalo Bill’s old time slot.  It was not a hit and was moved to Wednesday nights where it was cancelled after thirteen episodes.

carrey - once bitten
Jim Carrey – Once Bitten – 1985

In 1985, Carrey starred opposite Lauren Hutton in the vampire-themed teen sex comedy, Once Bitten.

Carrey played a naïve young man who is seduced by Hutton’s centuries-old vampire.  The movie was Carrey’s third appearance in a feature film and his first starring role.  Reviews were negative, but Once Bitten was profitable.  With Carrey’s rise to fame, Once Bitten has developed a cult following.

carrey - peggy sue got married
Jim Carrey and Nicholas Cage – Peggy Sue Got Married – 1986

In 1986, Carrey had a small role in the Kathleen Turner comedy, Peggy Sue Got Married.

Turner played Peggy Sue, a middle-aged housewife on the verge of divorce.  At her 25-year high school reunion, Turner travels back in time where she is given a chance to change her life.  Nicolas Cage played Turner’s no-good, car salesman husband.  In high school, Cage’s character had a doo-wop band.  Carrey played one of Cage’s friends and bandmates.

Carrey’s part was small.  He spends most of his screen time mugging in the background.  But Peggy Sue was a big movie directed by an A-list director, Francis Ford Coppola.  It received mostly good reviews, received three Academy Award nominations and was a hit at the box office.

In 1987, Carrey married his first wife – a former actress and waitress at The Comedy Store.  They would remain married until 1995 when Carrey had established himself as a major star.

carrey - dead pool

In 1988, Carrey had a supporting role in Clint Eastwood’s final Dirt Harry movie, The Dead Pool.

Carrey played a rock singer who is killed by Liam Neeson while filming a slasher movie.  It’s up to Eastwood’s Harry Callahan to crack the case and stop a serial killer.

Reviews were mixed and the movie disappointed at the box office.

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In 1989, Carrey played a furry alien in the musical sex comedy, Earth Girls Are Easy.

Earth Girls starred Geena Davis as a valley girl with a cheating fiancé.  Then a space ship crashes in her swimming pool containing three horny aliens with brightly colored fur.  The aliens were played by Jeff Goldblum, Damon Waynes and Carrey.

Reviews for Eath Girls Are Easy were mixed to positive.  But the movie failed at the box office.  It has gathered a cult following on video and is definitely worth checking out.

carrey - pink cadillac

Later that year, Carrey had a cameo in Clint Eastwood’s Pink Cadillac.  He does an Elvis impersonation in the background and Eastwood sneers at him.

carrey - in living color

Carrey had spent the better part of the 80s paying his dues.  But he was still an unknown.  That changed in 1990 when Carrey was cast on the sketch comedy show, In Living Color.  The Fox program was created by brothers Keenen and Damon Wayans.  Damon had befriended Carrey while making Earth Girls Are Easy.

The show features a mostly African-American cast including several members of the Wayans family.  Carrey stood out as the only white male on the show.  Over the course of five years on In Living Color, Carrey developed recurring characters like Fire Marshal Bill and female body builder Vera de Milo.

By the time the show ended in 1994, Carrey was one of the few original cast members left.

carrey - ace ventura

1994 wasn’t just a big year for Carrey.  It was an off-the-charts year.  Few actors have ever had as big of a year as Carrey did in 1994.  It started off with a low-budget comedy no one expected much from.  Ace Ventura: Pet Detective looked like a dozen lame movies starring former Saturday Night Live cast members hoping to make the jump to the big screen.  But Ace Ventura surpassed any reasonable expectations to become a huge hit.

The film co-starred a pre-Friends Courtney Cox as Carrey’s love interest and Sean Young as a transgender villain.  Reviews were mixed to negative, but audiences liked the stupid humor.  Ace Ventura over $70 million dollars on a budget of just $15 million.

carrey - the mask

Later that year, Carrey starred opposite Cameron Diaz (in her film debut) in the comic book adaptation, The Mask.

The comic book The Mask is based on is actually an extremely violent indie comic.  The character Carrey plays dies a tragic death early on.  But in the movie adaptation, the character is reimagined as a living cartoon who leaves a trail of mayhem but is relatively harmless.

The Mask received mostly positive reviews and was an even bigger hit at the box office than Ace Ventura.  Carrey was nominated for a Golden Globe for his funny yet surprisingly sensitive performance.  The film cemented his status as a rising star and put Diaz on the map.

A sequel was announced with Carrey returning to the role.  But after making an Ace Ventura sequel, Carrey backed out.  Instead, The Mask became an animated series.  Eventually, a sequel was made starring Jamie Kennedy instead.  It was not a hit.

carrey - dumb and dumber

Carrey ended the year starring opposite Jeff Daniels in the Farrelly brothers’ comedy, Dumb and Dumber.

The title pretty much said it all.  The movie was about two friends who are both incredibly dumb.  They go on a road trip to return what they think is lost luggage to a woman they have just met.  Lauren Holly co-starred as the woman Carrey’s character falls madly in love with after a short limo ride.

Despite mixed reviews, Dumb and Dumber continued Carrey’s amazing streak at the box office.  The film spun off another animated series and a prequel that lacked the involvement of Carrey, Daniels or the Farrelly brothers.  Like Son of the Mask, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd bombed.  Recently, Carrey has discussed returning for a sequel.

Dumb and Dumber was part of a much-derided pop culture craze in the mid-90s.  Much was written about the way in which Hollywood celebrated idiots.  Critics pointed to Jim Carrey movies, Beavis and Butthead, Wayne and Garth, Bill and Ted and even Forrest Gump.  But Carrey in particular was the poster boy for stupidity.

After his amazing year, Carrey was nominated for a Razzie for Worst New Star.  He “lost” the award to Anna Nicole Smith who had made her film debut in the final Naked Gun sequel.

carrey - batman forever

In 1995, Carrey starred as the Riddler in the third movie in the Batman series, Batman Forever.

Batman Forever was the first film in the series not directed by Tim Burton.  After Batman Returns was criticized for being too dark and violent for children, Warner Bros and Burton agreed to part ways.  Director Joel Schumacher was chosen to replace Burton.  This lead to the departure of Michael Keaton who was replaced by Val Kilmer.  Rene Russo was originally cast as Batman’s love interest, but when Kilmer replaced Keaton, Russo was replaced with Nicole Kidman.

Schumacher cast Tommy Lee Jones as Two Face after having worked with him on The Client.  Robin Williams was an earlier front-runner to play the Riddler.  But Carrey was cast instead based on his status as a rising star.  Schumacher had his hands full on the set.  Kilmer was notoriously difficult and reportedly got into a shoving match with the director.  Jones reportedly felt threatened by Carrey and behaved badly.

“Jim Carrey was a gentleman and Tommy Lee was threatened by him,” said Schumacher.  “I’m tired of defending overpaid, over privileged actors. I pray I don’t work with them again.”

Although Batman Forever is not a very good film, I don’t think you can blame Carrey for its flaws.  Carrey gives exactly the kind of performance he was hired to give.  He is surprisingly committed to the role having lost weight to wear the Riddler tights.  He even manages to work in some homage to the great Frank Gorshin from the Batman TV show.

Reviews were mixed, but Batman Forever was a big hit at the box office.  Warner Bros was thrilled with the results and immediately signed Schumacher to direct a sequel.  The sequel, Batman and Robin, killed the franchise until Christopher Nolan rebooted it several years later.

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Later that year, Carrey starred in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.

The first Ace Ventura film had several collaborators.  Carrey co-wrote the film with director Tom Shadyac.  The sequel was to be directed by Tom DeCerchio, but he was replaced after shooting began.  Steve Oedekerk, a mutual friend of Carrey’s and Shadyac’s was called on to direct.

I’m not sure there’s much point in discussing the quality of an Ace Ventura sequel.  But many feel that the sequel somehow failed to live up to the lofty standards of the original.  In spite of mixed reviews, Ace 2 was another big hit for Carrey.  It was nominated for a Golden Razzie for Worst Sequel or Remake.

carrey - cable guy

In 1996, Carrey starred opposite Matthew Broderick in Ben Stiller’s black comedy, The Cable Guy.

Carrey played a lisping cable installer who begins stalking Broderick after giving him free cable.  The movie takes a dark turn in the final act when it is revealed that Carrey’s character is actually dangerous.

Carrey was on a hot streak with four hit movies in two years.  As a result, he scored a then unheard-of $20 million dollar paycheck for starring in The Cable Guy.  In spite of the dark subject matter, expectations were high that Carrey could deliver a hit.  His fans turned up and made The Cable Guy a hit, but those who were expecting something like Ace Ventura were not sure what to make of the black comedy.

Like most of Carrey’s films at the time, The Cable Guy got mixed reviews.  While it was a hit at the box office, it was a disappointment relative to expectations.  Some openly questioned whether or not Carrey was worth the big bucks.  In the years since, the film has developed a cult following.

Carrey divorced his first wife in 1995.  The following year, he married his Dumb and Dumber co-star, Jeff Daniels.  No, he didn’t.  But that would have been hysterical.  No, instead he married Lauren Holly.  That marriage lasted less than a year.

carrey - liar liar

In 1997, Carrey rebounded from his first disappointment by reuniting with his Ace Ventura director, Tom Shadyac, for the high concept comedy, Liar Liar.

Carrey played a divorced lawyer who promises to go to his son’s birthday party.  But when he doesn’t show, the cute little boy makes a heart-warming wish that his dad will be unable to lie for a day.  Hijinks and life lessons ensue.  Through the power of honesty, Carrey manages to win his big case, reunite with his ex-wife and to be a better man.  Awwwww.

Reviews were mostly positive and the movie was a hit at the box office.  Carrey’s fans forgave him for the perceived misstep of The Cable Guy.

carrey - truman show

In 1998, Carrey made his first bid to be taken seriously as a dramatic actor in Peter Weir’s The Truman Show.

Carrey played an orphan who grows up in the public eye.  His entire life is a carefully constructed TV show with actors playing his friends and family members.  Everyone is aware of the artifice except Truman (or “true man” – deep, huh?).

Screenwriter Andrew Niccol had originally signed to direct his own script.  But Paramount was nervous about the price tag and the tone of the script.  Niccol’s script was much more serious and played up the science fiction elements of the story.  The studio paid Niccol to step aside and allow Weir to direct.  Robin Williams was originally considered for the lead, but Weir cast Carrey after seeing him in Ace Ventura.  Weir compared Carrey’s performance to Chaplin!

Carrey had several commitments and could not make The Truman Show for at least a year.  During that time, Weir had Niccol re-write the script several times to lighten the tone.  Weir also compiled a huge backstory about the fictional TV show.  When it came time to film, Weir and Carrey had some initial difficulties.  Carrey had enough power to demand re-writes if he was unsatisfied.  But eventually the star and director developed a comfortable working relationship.

Reviews were positive and The Truman Show was a hit.  The film was nominated for several awards.  Carrey won his first Golden Globe.

Later that year, he had a cameo in the truly awful Simon Birch which starred Ashley Judd and Oliver Platt.  Fortunately for Carrey, no one saw it.

carrey - man on the moon

In 1999, Carrey continued his development as a dramatic actor playing legendary comic, Andy Kaufman in Miloš Forman’s biopic, Man on the Moon.

The film traced Kaufman’s unconventional career as a comedian and TV star through his death at the age of 35 due to lung cancer.  Danny DeVito, Courtney Love and Paul Giamatti co-starred.

Man on the Moon was a bit of a mixed bag.  Critics were unanimous in their praise of Carrey’s performance.  But many felt the film was lacking in depth.  Reviews were mixed and the film disappointed at the box office.  But it received some nominations during awards season.  Carrey won his second Golden Globe in two years.

zellweger - me, myself and irene

In 2000, Carrey reunited with the Farrelly brothers with whom he had made Dumb and Dumber for Me, Myself and Irene.

Carrey played a state trooper tasked with escorting a young woman to New York where she will face charges of hit-and-run.  Carrey’s character suffers a psychotic breakdown which results in a split personality.  Renee Zellweger played the young woman, Irene.

Reviews were mixed and so was the box office.  The film was a hit, but it failed to gross $100 million dollars in the US which was a disappointment given Carrey’s track record.

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Zellweger and Carrey became romantically involved off-screen as well.  At one point, the couple was engaged but the engagement was broken off.

carrey - grinch

Later that year, Carrey starred in Ron Howard’s adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

The children’s book had previously been adapted into a classic animated holiday special by the great Chuck Jones.  Jones had to stretch to fill 22 minutes on TV.  So the movie had to add all kinds of material including an origin story in order to fill a feature film.

Mixed reviews from grinchy critics (or those who prefer their Seuss less crass and more Seussy) didn’t keep audiences away.  The Grinch was a huge holiday hit – the biggest of Carrey’s career.  Let that sink in.  It’s no wonder Carrey went back to family films a few more times.

carrey - the majestic

In 2001, Carrey starred in… oh hell… that’s Laurie Holden from The Walking Dead!  Look out, Jim!  Readers of my Walking Dead recaps know that Andrea sucks the life out of everything!  Sorry, I’m still carrying scars from the show’s third season.

Holden’s presence is no coincidence.  The Majestic was directed by The Walking Dead’s original producer, Frank Darabont.  The film was intended to be a Capraesque drama filled with nostalgia and patriotism.  That was the intent anyway.  But, you know, Andrea.

Okay, Andrea can be blamed for a lot of things – including her own death by zombie – but the failure of The Majestic probably isn’t one of them.  Reviews were mostly negative and the movie bombed at the box office.  It was the first true box office bomb of Carrey’s career since he became a star seven years earlier.

carrey - bruce almighty

Carrey bounced back in 2003 by reuniting with both of his Ace Ventura directors (Shadyac and Oedekerk) for another high concept comedy, Bruce Almighty.

 Carrey played a local TV news reporter who is frustrated with his unfulfilled ambition in spite of the fact he’s dating Jennifer Anniston.  He complains to God as portrayed by Morgan Freeman.  God whimsically decides to grant Carrey divine powers to teach him a lesson about prayer or something.

I have mentioned before on this site that Bruce Almighty bugs me.  There are some legitimately funny bits, but the movie is so aggressively mediocre.  The premise practically demands a certain amount of heresy.  Instead the movie plays it ridiculously safe and turns into a Sunday school lesson by the end.

Critics mostly agree with me.  Reviews were mixed.  But audiences who like mediocre Sunday school comedies made Bruce Almighty the second biggest hit of Carrey’s career.  A sequel, Evan Almighty, focused on Steve Carrel’s supporting character.   But like all sequels to Jim Carrey movies in which Carrey does not return, the movie was a bomb.  Carrey has talked about returning for another sequel.

carrey - eternal sunshine

In 2004, Carrey returned to drama in Michel Gondry’s romantic fantasy, The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Carrey and Kate Winslet play an estranged couple who have erased their memories of each other.  Most of the film takes place in Carrey’s characters mind as his memories of Winslet are slowly erased in reverse order.  Eventually, he fights to keep his memories even though they cause him pain.

The screenplay was written by Charlie Kaufman who wrote Being John Malcovich and Adaptation.  Like those films. Eternal Sunshine defies expectations.  You really have to experience it.  Best film of Carrey’s career?  Most certainly.

Reviews were positive and the movie was an art house hit.  Carrey was nominated for a Golden Globe.

carrey - lemony snicket

In 2004, Carrey returned to family films with the big screen adaptation of the popular Lemony Snicket’s children’s books in Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Carrey played multiple roles including the film’s primary villain.  The kids were the protagonists, but Carrey was the clear star.

Originally, the film was supposed to be directed by Barry Sonnenfeld.  Sonnenfeld hired Carrey, but he left the film over disagreements over the budget with Paramount.  Sonnefeld was replaced by Brad Silberling.  Silberling’s original cut of the film was deemed “too dark” and “anti-holiday” by the studios so it was recut to make it more family-friendly.

Reviews were mostly positive and the movie did well at the box office.  But it was not a big enough hit to guarantee that the planned sequels would get made.  Mostly, the franchise seems to have been a victim of studio politics.  But if the first film had made Harry Potter money, the sequels would have happened no matter who was in charge.

carrey - fun with dick and jane

In 2005, Carrey starred opposite Tea Leoni in a remake of the 1977 comedy, Fun With Dick and Jane.

The original film starred George Segal and Jane Fonda as a couple who hits hard times and turns to theft.  In the remake, Carrey and Leoni play the rich couple who turns to crime when Carrey’s employer goes bankrupt.

Reviews were mixed to negative.  The movie barely earned back its $100 million dollar box office in the US.  But eventally, it managed to earn a decent profit overseas.

carrey - number 23

In 2007, Carrey reunited with his Batman Forever director, Joel Schumacher, for the numerical thriller, Number 23.

The movie’s premise is that the number 23 is somehow evil.  Carrey’s character reads a book and relates to the main character.  The book ends with Chapter 22 in which the main character contemplates suicide after killing his lover.  A lot of scary numbers follow.

Ever since Batman and Robin, Schumacher has been on a quest to prove how dark and gritty he can be.  He has made a string of critically reviled and commercially unsuccessful psychological thrillers.  Number 23 was one of those films.

carrey - horton hears a who

In 2008, Carrey returned to Seuss territory with voice work in the animated adaptation of Horton Hears a Who.  The movie reunited Carrey with his Bruce Almighty co-star, Steve Carrell.  Reviews were positive and the movie was a hit at the box office.

Jim Carrey Yes Man movie image Zooey Deschanel

Later that year, Carrey starred opposite Zooey Deschanel and Bradley Cooper in the life affirming comedy, Yes Man.

Carrey played a man with a negative attitude who decides to turn his life around after attending a seminar.  Going forward, he will say “yes” to every opportunity.  It’s a premise that sounds a little like Liar Liar or something Robin Williams might have starred in.

Although you can hardly blame him.  If General Zod (the real General Zod, not that Man of Steel crap) tells you to change your attitude, you change your attitude.  Reviews were mixed, but the movie was a hit at the box office.

At this point, I have to admit I am taken a bit by surprise.  I had assumed based on the reviews and lack of buzz that movies like Fun With Dick and Jane and Yes Man were box office disappointments or even flops.  But Carrey has actually been remarkably consistent at the box office even though his Bruce Almighty days appear to be behind him.

carrey - christmas carol

In 2009, Carrey starred in Robert Zemekis’ motion capture animated feature, A Christmas Carol.

Through the magic of motion capture, Carrey played Scrooge as well as all three ghosts in the classic and oft-told holiday tale.  Spoilers: Scrooge has a very Grinch-like change of heart.

Zemekis has been the poster boy for motion capture in Hollywood.  This was the director’s third motion capture film in a row.  Many complained that the photo-realistic style of animation came to close to the so-called “uncanny valley”.  As applies to animation, the “uncanny valley” is what happens when animation looks “too realistic” without quite capturing the idiosyncrasies of humanity.  The result is figures that look more human than cartoonish but still move stiffly or have “dead eyes”.  Many find the current state of the technology somewhat off-putting.

A Christmas Carol followed much the same path as Zemekis’ earlier stop motion Christmas movie, The Polar Express.  Both films divided critics and opened to somewhat soft box office.  But both films also played very well throughout the holiday season and eventually turned into solid hits.  Unfortunately, Zemekis’ winning streak with motion capture animation came to an end with the expensive flop Mars Needs Moms which Zemekis produced but did not direct.  Despite Zemekis’ earlier successes Mars Needs Moms caused studios (Disney specifically) to loose faith the expensive technology.  This lead to the cancellation of one of Zemekis’ dream projects, a motion capture animation remake of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine.

carrey - philip morris

Carrey’s next film, I Love You Phillip Morris, struggled to receive a theatrical release.

The movie is based on Steve McVicker’s auto-biography, I Love You Phillip Morris: A True Story of Life, Love, and Prison Breaks.  Carrey played a con-man who falls in love with a fellow inmate played by Ewan McGregor while both of them are in prison.  After McGregor’s character is released, Carrey stages several prison escapes to be with him.

Not surprisingly, the film had a tough time finding a distributor despite the A-list talent.  Eventually, Phillip Morris received a limited release during which it managed to turn a profit.  But for most audiences, the film was a direct-to-video release.  Reviews were mostly positive.

carrey - poppers

In 2011, Carrey returned to family friendly films with Mr. Popper’s Penguins.

The movie was loosely based on a children’s book of the same name.  Carrey plays another divorced dad.  This time, he inherits a penguin from his estranged father.  A miscommunication results in Carrey’s character coming into possession of multiple arctic birds.

Originally, Ben Stiller was attached to the project.  When Stiller dropped out, Owen Wilson and Jack Black were considered.  But ultimately, Carrey was cast.  The movie received mixed reviews and disappointed at the box office.  But it was not the flop many believe it to be.  The movie had a budget of roughly $55 million dollars and grosses nearly $70 million in the US.  That’s not good, but it’s not disastrous either.  Worldwide, Mr. Popper’s Penguins has grossed over $180 million.

THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE

Carrey started off 2013 with a supporting role in The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.

Steve Carrell starred as an old school Las Vegas magician who is threatened by a new age street magician played by Carrey.

Reviews for Burt Wonderstone were mixed, but our own Daffystardust was a fan.  The movie opened in a disappointing third place behind Oz the Great and Powerful and the surprise Halle Berry hit, The Call.  The movie failed to recoup its $30 million dollar budget which qualifies it as a flop.  Somehow, Carrey was blamed for the film’s failure at the box office despite the fact that Carrell was the star.  I suppose it’s because Carrey’s involvement brings higher box office expectations.

carrey - kick ass 2

Next up, Carrey appeared in another supporting role in the violent super hero sequel, Kick Ass 2.

Kick Ass is a violent independent comic book from writer Mark Millar.  The first film released in 2010 wasn’t exactly a big hit.  But it did well on video which lead to the sequel getting a reluctant green light.  Carrey was a vocal supporter of the film and requested a role in the sequel.

Before the film was released, Carrey made headlines by denouncing Kick Ass for its violence.  In June 2013, Carrey tweeted:

“I did Kick-Ass 2 a month b4 Sandy Hook and now in all good conscience I cannot support that level of violence. My apologies to others involve[d] with the film. I am not ashamed of it but recent events have caused a change of heart.”

Carrey’s comments proved controversial for a number of reasons.  For one, Carrey’s refusal to promote the film seems somewhat self-serving given that Carrey didn’t offer to return his fee or donate it to a related charity.  Many have questioned the timing of Carrey’s change of heart.  While the Sandy Hook tragedy had an impact on us all, it was hardly the first gun-related tragedy in America.  There have been several similar headlines in recent years.  And yet, the violence didn’t seem to bother Carrey in the equally over-the-top 2010 film.

carrey - kick ass costume

Carrey was such a fan of the first film that he wore a Kick Ass costume while appearing with Conan O’Brien.  So the violent nature of the sequel could hardly have come as a surprise to Carrey.  After Carrey requested a role in the sequel, many see Carrey’s refusal to promote the film as biting the hand that feeds him.

Another argument against Carrey’s stance is that intentional or not, Carrey is supporting one of the arguments of the NRA.  A frequent argument against gun control is that violent movies and video games are the real problem.  By linking his own violent movie to real life violence, Carrey is lending weight to this argument.

Kick Ass 2 received mixed reviews and disappointed at the box office.

Carrey-McCarthy

This isn’t the first time Carrey has courted controversy.  In 2009, Carrey wrote a column for the Huffington Post linking vaccines to autism.  The controversial stance which is not supported by science was a pet cause of Carrey’s then-girlfriend, Jenny McCarthy.  Why anyone would choose to take health advice from a former Playboy Playmate and a Hollywood nutjob is beyond me.  But Carrey and McCarthy lead a rally in Washington to advance their cause.

carrey - greenourvaccines

 So, what the hell happened?

First of all, Carrey’s career has slowed down a little from his heyday.  But while he may not be as relevant as he once was, his box office performance is still amazingly consistent.  Bad press or no, Carrey is still a viable star.

However, Carrey’s erratic behavior will likely have long term repercussions.  It is commonly known that Carrey has long struggled with depression.  For the last several years, Carrey has been using alternative methods to treat his depression.  This has lead to stories of Carrey being difficult to collaborate with.  With the Kick Ass situation, Carrey has branded himself as unstable.  In the future, studios will have to question the wisdom of casting a guy who requested a role in a movie he later denounced and refused to promote.

Additionally, Carrey’s attempts to rebrand himself as a dramatic actor have been less than successful.  Although audiences embraced The Truman Show, they were less receptive to Man on the Moon and The Number 23.  Every time Carrey tried to branch out, he eventually retreated back to a high concept comedy.

Carrey has also succumbed to the lure of family films.  Many movie comics cash big paychecks making bland family friendly comedies.  These movies are usually a reliable source of income, but they can cost a comic the edge that made them popular in the first place.

Recently, Carrey has been attached to possible sequels to some of his most popular films; Dumb and Dumber and Bruce Almighty.  Many see this as the star retreating to safe ground.  They question whether or not Carrey is still capable of drawing in crowds with new material.  I think this kind of talk is premature.  At present, Carrey has only had two true flops.  And one of them starred Steve Carrell.

Carrey still has a busy year ahead of him.  Kick Ass 2 opens August 16.  After that, Carrey is scheduled to appear in a cameo in the Anchorman sequel.  Next year, Carrey will appear in the long-awaited Dumb and Dumber sequel.  Any of these projects could return Carrey to the top of the box office charts.

So if Carrey is still viable and arguably A-list, why are so many people talking like his career is over?  I think it’s because Carrey has stopped being cool.  At the height of his career, Carrey was the class clown his audience thought they would like to hang out with.  Now, he comes across as kind of a sad, crazy old man. 

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admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

In 1984 I was an aspiring cartoonist, so I hoped that Duck Factory would be really good and a hit. It was neither to my recollection. I really should’ve been watching more documentaries and old cartoons instead of that weird unfunny show. I have been one to complain about the proliferation of idiots in modern comedy, and it is a problem for me. I have a hard time relating to truly stupid individuals and therefore have a hard time empathizing or caring when they star in a movie. But hey, the movies they star in continue to make big money,… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

In 1984, I watched Cheers. So I know I sat through The Duck Factory. I vaguely recall not being impressed with it. I don’t really mind movies about idiots if the movie is intelligent. I thought Dumb and Dumber was a really smart movie about dumb people. Did I root for Harry and Lloyd? Not really. But I laughed till I cried during the dead parrot bit. Then again, I sometimes watched Beavis and Butthead. Haven’t seen Burt Wonderstone. But given the talent involved, I would be surprised if I didn’t at least chuckle. Steve Buscemi is always good for… Read more »

RB
RB
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

With you on a lot of modern comedy Daffy. I sometimes think only 1 in 50 is even worth seeing. The demographics, or the way they reach the target audiences, seems to have changed a lot. It occurred to me last night, as I lay on the couch in a state of apathy before falling asleep as my daughter laughed hysterically watching “Grown Ups”, that while it’s not easy to feel ripped off when you only paid a dollar at Redbox, if it’s that much of a belly laugh to the young set, no harm done other than they have… Read more »

Joe
Joe
10 years ago

I haven’t seen Batman forever, but I always thought that if the Batman movies hadn’t been rebooted with such a dark and gritty tone, Carrey would have been a great Joker. Something about how he can contort his face. See crazy stuff like the Mask. Just a little more sinister.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Joe

The Riddler and the Joker are superficially similar. All the villains in the Burton/Schumacher era basically chewed scenery in the mold established by Nicholson in the first film. I have no doubt Carrey could have just as easily played Joker. He actually went above and beyond as the Riddler. You can’t fault the guy for lack of commitment.

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

10 Most Disappointing Villains In Movie History: http://whatculture.com/film/10-most-disappointing-villains-in-movie-history.php/9 3. The Riddler – Batman Forever I could have actually picked any of the two villains in Joel Schumacher’s campy badfest, but I’ve gone with Jim Carrey’s Riddler over Tommy Lee Jones’ Two Face, because Tommy Lee Jones scares me. So the Riddler, as you’re no doubt aware, is one of the most iconic of all Batman villains – he’s one bad guy who forces Batman to use his brain, given that he’s into puzzles, and, well, riddles, I guess. Batman Forever makes a mockery of this guy, though I suppose that… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

10 Things DC Wants You To Forget About The Riddler: http://whatculture.com/comics/10-things-dc-wants-forget-riddler.php/8 Jim Carrey The Batman films took a weird turn somewhere. At first they were dark but still pretty noticeably comic book-like, as Tim Burton turned his twisted and hyper-real film-making style to the Caped Crusader with brilliant results. Then Joel Schumacher took over the franchise with Batman Forever and, well…there’s a reason people were so thankful when Christopher Nolan took over the movie Dark Knight and made them less of a sugar-fueled pop art nightmare that nobody asked for. As rightfully reviled as Batman & Robin is, things went… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Val Kilmer really wasn’t that bad a Batman http://officialfan.proboards.com/thread/557768/val-kilmer-bad-batman?page=2 Post by Alexander The So-so on about an hour ago Honestly, in retrospect, Forever might be my least favorite of the Burton/Schumacher tetrology. Batman and Robin might be an abomination, but at least it’s a full-blown abomination that you can sit and laugh at. Returns may be weird and the villain’s motive might not make a ton of sense, but I’m one of those people for whom Tim Burton’s special brand of weirdness is appealing, so I can forgive it. Forever, though, seemed to me to be stuck between trying to… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
6 years ago

I have no problem defending “Batman Forever”; yeah, everything was headed in the wrong direction, but I think there’s enough good there to make it viable viewing. If Two-Face was a more proper character, I may say I’d even highly recommend it. Batman!

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Jim Carrey explains Batman Forever feud with Tommy Lee Jones http://www.looper.com/89075/jim-carrey-batman-forever-feud-tommy-lee-jones/ Jim Carrey may have spent most of his time in Batman Forever cackling maniacally as the Riddler, but apparently no laughs were had behind the scenes. In the past, the actor has indicated that he and co-star Tommy Lee Jones, who played the nefarious Two-Face in the superhero flick, clashed in quite a big way. Now, speaking during an appearance on Norm Macdonald Live, Carrey discussed the feud in more detail.  “I was the star, and that was the problem,” Carrey began before diving into the moment that ignited the… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Tommy Lee Jones Couldn’t Stand Working With Jim Carrey On “Batman Forever” And It’s A Genuinely Insane Story

https://www.buzzfeed.com/alliehayes/tommy-lee-jones-couldnt-stand-working-with-jim-carrey-on

johnny88
10 years ago

I have to confess, I never liked Jim Carrey. I always find him truly overrated and never understood why he’s been so successful. When i was in high school everyone always tell how amazing he was and I always was the lone who disagreed. I really can’t connect with his humor and his facial expression. Of all his filmography I single out only “The Truman Show”, it’s the lone Carrey movie I have appreciated.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  johnny88

I have never had a strong opinion either way. I don’t think there’s any denying that the guy is talented. But he makes a lot of movies that don’t interest me at all. If you haven’t seen Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, check it out. Man on the Moon is pretty good too. And Dumb and Dumber makes me laugh a lot. Liar Liar has its moments.

RB
RB
10 years ago

As always, entertaining and balanced. I also think you’re more of a wordsmith than you give yourself credit for. Each post usually has one or two “Lebeauisms” but in this one I particularly enjoyed the line about “grinchy critics”, those who “like their Suess less crass and more Suessy.” LOL! Another consistent experience reading these, for me anyway, is the feeling that, “I THOUGHT I was a diehard film fan” and then reading about movies that I forgot about while life got in the way. There are 3 Carrey films that I have to see after reading this, I know… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

Thanks RB. Those are the lines that usually make me chuckle as I am writing them. As I am writing and researching, I have a similar experience. Sometimes there are movies I forgot existed. Sometimes there are even movies (or TV shows) I can’t remember whether or not I have watched! In this case, I know I watched The Duck Factory, but I couldn’t tell you anything about it. Frequently, there are movies I thought were hits or flops but turn out to be the opposite. One of the reasons I chose Carrey as a subject is that I thought… Read more »

Mack
Mack
10 years ago

I have always liked Jim Carrey’s comedies, but have always had a hard time watching his dramatic movies. I always expected he would start talking out of his butt for the Truman show. But Liar, Liar; Dumb and Dumber, The Grinch are some of my favorite movies. When I need to laugh, or pull myself out of a nasty mood (and Caddyshack can only be watched SO many times), I’ll always throw in Dumb and Dumber. As always, a great review, with info and facts not normally seen anywhere else but here. BUT, it is Jeff Daniels!!! Not Jeff Bridges.… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Mack

ACK! Know that I am kicking myself. I can’t believe I made the same mistake twice in one post! No excuse. I have updated the article to reflect the correct Jeff.

I have to admit, I haven’t seen The Deadpool. I got my info off Wikipedia for that one. You know how that goes.

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago

10 Actors Who Are Nowhere Near As Great As They Used To Be: http://whatculture.com/film/10-actors-who-are-nowhere-near-as-great-as-they-used-to-be.php/8 3. Jim Carrey It’s possible to do an entire list just on comedic actors that no longer make us laugh mainly because they tried to follow the Robin Williams Career Trajector. Jim Carrey exploded onto the scene with Ace Ventura and the Mask, killing it in the box office and cheap Halloween party costumes. You couldn’t go anywhere without someone doing a poor imitation of an Ace Ventura skit, most likely the one talking out of their ass. He bumped Robin Williams from contention as the… Read more »

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago

Movies That Killed Comedy Careers: http://www.ugo.com/movies/movies-that-killed-comedy-careers-how-the-grinch-stole-christmas How The Grinch Stole Christmas When Jim Carrey’s good, he’s great, as evidenced by comedy classics like Ace Ventura, Dumb and Dumber and his breakout run on In Living Color, but when he’s bad, he’s simply an unbearable over-actor. While it would be easy to ridicule his recent bad film choices (Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Yes Man and Fun with Dick and Jane for example), it’s best we call out when his shtick really started to become grating. Namely, How The Grinch Stole Christmas. While it’s hard to blame the guy for getting stuck in… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

The Battle For Relevancy: 15 Stars Struggling To Stay Popular: http://styleblazer.com/170465/the-battle-for-relevancy-15-stars-struggling-to-stay-popular/5/ Much like Will Smith, Jim Carrey’s recent flop can be blamed on the actor playing it too safe. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone would have been a huge hit for the actor… in 1998. True to form, Carry will likely be bouncing back from the debacle with what appears to be a chameleon-like performance in Kick-A$$ 2. Unfortunately, the actor will reap little benefits of it thanks to having pulled his support for the film due to the high level of gun violence the sequel contains. Instead the rubber-faced performer… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AtcNoUwDyY

Welcome to iEpicTop5 in this Video I talk about Why Hollywood Won’t Cast Jim Carrey Anymore. Jim Carrey has appeared in many countless films over the years such as Dumb and Dumber, The Mask, The Grinch, Liar Liar Bruce Almighty and many more. But after Dumb and Dumber 2 he hasn’t appeared in anything since. Why is this?

HHGeek
HHGeek
7 years ago

“But after Dumb and Dumber 2 he hasn’t appeared in anything since. Why is this?”

Let’s try this lot for starters :
– exec producing TV series ‘I’m Dying Up Here’
– global premiere of ‘The Bad Batch’ due in Venice in the next week (minor role)
– major role in ‘True Crimes;; filming wrapped, dunno release date

All of which was known (excl. release dates) before that vid was posted to YouTube.

Plus, of course, he’s loaded, & never needs to work again unless he fancies it.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

Cameron Diaz will probably be coming relatively soon. I’ve actually received a lot of requests for her. In retrospect, Carrey was less of an ideal candidate than I thought when I started the article. As I stated in the article, there were several movies he made that I assumed were flops or disappointments that were actually financially successful. But even so, I stand by the choice. There is a perception that he has fallen from great heights. And while his situation isn’t as dire as many believe, he isn’t at the top of his career anymore. Many times, perception is… Read more »

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

The Star Market: Is Bad Teacher a Good Move for Cameron Diaz? http://www.vulture.com/2011/06/star_market_cameron_diaz.html Some Hollywood actresses radiate ambition and have their futures optimistically mapped out from the get-go, but not Cameron Diaz. In 1995, coming off of her debut in The Mask, Diaz laughingly predicted to Movieline that her career would fizzle out within months. Two years later, it hadn’t, and when the magazine went back to ask why Diaz was playing supporting parts in movies like My Best Friend’s Wedding, she was still self-effacing: “I don’t ever want my name to be the first over the title.” Suffice it… Read more »

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago

There’s Something Puzzling About Mary: http://www.pajiba.com/career_assessments/cameron-diaz-career-assessment.php Subject: Cameron Michelle Diaz, 37-year old American actress/former model Date of Assessment: May 21, 2010 Positive Buzzwords: Bankability, longevity, able to burp on command Negative Buzzwords: Overrated, wtf? The Case: While I’m never particularly impressed at a “meh” declaration, I must confess to a surprisingly blasé attitude towards Cameron Diaz. She’s not particularly talented, nor is she terribly bright (that MTV eco-tourism special wherein Cameron declared her jealousy towards Drew Barrymore for taking the first “poo in the woods” comes to mind), but Diaz has enjoyed quite an enduring career since her acting debut… Read more »

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago

The Strange And Surprising Career Of Cameron Diaz: http://www.starpulse.com/news/Matthew_Newlin/2011/06/23/the_strange_and_surprising_career_of_c Cameron Diaz is anything but a predictable actor. This Friday, “Bad Teacher” opens and will showcase Diaz’s R-rated comedy skills opposite Justin Timerlake and Jason Segel, an alumnus of the Judd Apatow school of raunchy humor. Directed by Jake Kasdan (“Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”), Diaz stars as the world’s worst teacher who would rather get high in her car than teach her kids anything. While most moviegoers see her as just a pretty face who pops up in mediocre films, Diaz has had an incredibly unique and varied career… Read more »

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago

Cameron Diaz: 5 Awesome Performances and 5 That Sucked: http://whatculture.com/film/cameron-diaz-5-awesome-performances-and-5-that-sucked.php Ah, Cameron Diaz. Given the fact that she’s tall, blonde and strikingly beautiful, perhaps it goes without saying that she began her career in the limelight as a model. It wasn’t long, however, before those fortunate looks landed her a fairly sizable role in her first major movie; The Mask. But it wasn’t only those fortunate looks that allowed her to return to center stage Hollywood again and again; she quickly proved with her turns in My Best Friend’s Wedding, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, There’s Something About Mary… Read more »

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

10 Actresses Who Could Use a Career Reboot: http://whatculture.com/film/10-actresses-who-could-use-a-career-reboot.php/3 8. Cameron Diaz I can’t come up with a performer, male or female, who has had as many notable close-but-no-cigar moments with Oscar. After being nominated for four Golden Globes and three SAG Awards, Cameron STILL missed Oscar nods for Being John Malkovich, Vanilla Sky and Gangs of New York. We know Cameron can act… I’m just not sure she knows it. After her golden period of not only critical success, but also commercial stardom (There’s Something About Mary ignited the world’s love for her, and rightfully so) she decided it’d… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  admin

12 Terrible Movies That Killed An Actor’s Winning Streak: http://whatculture.com/film/12-terrible-movies-that-killed-an-actors-winning-streak.php/4 The Box – Cameron Diaz The Streak: Cameron Diaz had one hell of a streak starting in 2001, beginning with animated classic Shrek and following up with consecutive hits in Vanilla Sky, The Sweetest Thing (though this one was a near-miss at the box office), Gangs of New York, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, two Shrek sequels, In Her Shoes, The Holiday, What Happens in Vegas and My Sister’s Keeper. Some of her successes were more modest than others, but she proved she had sizable pulling power with audiences throughout. The… Read more »

RB
RB
10 years ago

i think you’re both right. he’s a box office draw but it’s for the PG/PG13 audience. The WTHHT question is why and how he was not able to duplicate the Tom Hanks dramatic versatility.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

I think I’ve been pretty up front about the fact that I have expanded the focus of the series to the point where the title is almost besides the point. Sometimes I’m a little slow on the uptake. But eventually, I noticed that WTHH articles drove at least 10x more traffic than anything else. And they only get more popular over time. So I decided to focus my energies on that to get as much bang for the buck as I can out of my blogging efforts. At this point, I’ll cover any career that has a rise and a… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

You’ve hit the nail on the head with this comment. I often ask myself whether or not the term “A-list” still means anything. I think to some extent, it still carries weight. Cruise and Depp are still A-list. But the lines have blurred. It’s harder and harder to tell anymore as pre-sold concepts drive attendance. I could (and probably will eventually) write a long piece on what that is doing to the movies. (I’m especially interested in the failure of The Lone Ranger and how Disney has learned the wrong lesson from it). A while ago, we talked about some… Read more »

paolov69
10 years ago

Excellent as usual (which is a contradiction, I know), LeBeau. After all these WTHHT, I am wondering if it is maybe more interesting to analyze how and why some careers are still high and running. For example, why Brad Pitt and George Clooney are still A-list? What did they do right? Which mistakes did they avoid?

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  paolov69

Excellent point as usual. (I hadn’t thought about that being a contradiction but you are right.) I have heard some people claiming Brad Pitt was over before WWZ hit it big. I thought it was rubbish, but that opinion was out there. You’re right that we kind of take on-going careers as a given. If someone is succeeding, you just expect them to keep on succeeding indefinitely. In Clooney’s case, the part of his career that interests me the most is his immediate reaction to the failure of Batman and Robin. He said, I’m rich now. I never need to… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  admin

I think that people were perhaps easier or quicker to forgive George Clooney when compared to the other principal players “Batman & Robin” (only Chris O’Donnell has yet to get his own WTHHT) because Clooney was up front w/ his disappointment w/ the final product. I also think that’s why somebody (on the female side) like Sandra Bullock has been able to stay around for so long because Bullock will be up front when she makes a terrible movie (e.g. “Speed 2” and “All About Steve”) and other or not she mainly did it for the money. Incidentally, going back… Read more »

thomas
thomas
10 years ago

the decline of Jim Carrey’s comedy career is because, I think that he started to look to old for the silly roles talking out of his butt ,that made him famous.That is why He probably took the more dramatic roles and family friendly roles.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  thomas

I think age is definitely a factor. For a young guy to act like an idiot is one thing. A middle aged man doing the same thing starts to look sad. Just look at the video of Carrey pleading with Emma Stone to love him. Very few comedians age gracefully. But Carrey’s style of comedy had a clear expiration date. At the very least, he needed to transition beyond talk out of his butt.

Mwerty
Mwerty
10 years ago

I’ve always felt that Carey in particular resonated with my age group because most of his movies attract teens and young children. I grew up watching movies like “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”, “Bruce Almighty”, “Dumb and Dumber”, etc… But then I found his older work in “In Loving Color” and I loved it! He played the overtly gay guy and had several skits with Jamie Foxx’s Wanda that were hilarious. I think his problem is that he relies on weak comedy or perhaps chooses movie roles where he can use cheap jokes in favor of a check. I sat… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Mwerty

For a while, I was following the poll results to choose subjects. Recently, I’ve veered off as there have been a few I really wanted to write about. I have one more “write-in” candidate to cover and then I will probably return to the poll results for a while. Sometimes I like to do that to let the newer additions to the poll catch up with the folks who have been on for a while. But the question of WTHH to Matt Dillon will be answered soon. From your comments, I’m guessing you are younger than me. I watched In… Read more »

Mwerty
Mwerty
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

I agree- Vera de Milo was disgusting. My favorites on the show were Tommy Davidson, Jamie Foxx, and Jim Carrey. My personal favorites are the overtly gay guy, mr. rogers, fire marshall bill, and the environmental dude. Ironically, weird creepy characters were hilarious when he was a young guy but if he played Mr. Roger’s now, it would be uncomfortable. The show was a complete genius in general and the actors excelled in it. Young Jim Carrey is sort of like young Eddie Murphy. Talented and eager in their youth, then relegated into kid movies during their middle age years.… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Mwerty

There are a handful of actors who successfully made the transition from comic actor to dramatic actor. Williams is the most direct comparison to Carrey. But Tom Hanks and Michael Keaton both started as zany comic actors before becoming known primarily for dramas. These days, Bill Murray walks the line between comedian and dramatic actor. It’s a difficult trick to pull off. I’m not sure why some have been so much more successful than others. But I think a big part of Carrey’s problem was that he started off so associated with physical humor that he was trapped by it.… Read more »

Mwerty
Mwerty
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

I’m more familiar with Hanks as a serious actor. The only comedic movie I’ve seen of his is Joe vs. The Volcano which we wore out on VCR. I was actually never aware that he was a comedic actor so I’ll have to check out some of his older movies. Same thing with Keaton: He’ll always be the First Batman to me since that was the first time I watched a movie in theaters. Any particular Hanks movies you would recommend?

RB
RB
10 years ago
Reply to  Mwerty

people are going to laugh at me… but if I can chime in… been a Tom Hanks fan before he was a movie star, ever since he starred in the sitcom “Bosom Buddies” along with Peter Scolari. it was only on the air for 2 seasons. Basic premise; the guys posing as women to be able to live in an affordable all women apartment building. honestly it was a really good sitcom…. it was hilarious due to the wildly talented cast… don’t be swayed because it didn’t stay on the air.. remember there were quality sitcoms in those years that… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

I can’t believe my parents let me watch Bosom Buddies when I was a kid because they were extremely strict. I remember my dad turning off episodes of Family Ties he considered “inappropriate”. And yet, I did watch Bosom Buddies. It wasn’t a great show. The second season was a pretty big drop in quality from the first. But Hanks’ star power was obvious. He made the show. Scolari was also good as a TV straight man. But you could tell Hanks was going to be huge.

Mwerty
Mwerty
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

I loved TGIF! I watched every episode of family ties as a child but I never saw anything you can deem inappropriate. Bosom Buddies sounds hilarious so I’ll try seeing it on Netflix or something.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Mwerty

There may be some confusion. Family Ties was on Thursday nights on NBC. I think you’re thinking of Family Matters on TGIF. Family Ties starred Michael J Fox.

Mwerty
Mwerty
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

I always seem to mix the two up! I used to watch reruns of Family Ties and watch TGIF with Family Matters.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Mwerty

See I watched Family Ties when it was new and was in college during the whole TGIF thing. So I missed that completely.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Mwerty

You must be young! Or at least younger than me. In the 80s, Hanks and Keaton were known primarily for comedies. Both turned to dramas in the mid to late 80s. I am a big fan of Joe Vs. the Volcano. If you want to see Hanks’ comedy career, Splash is about as good as it gets. Bachelor Party is a cult favorite of some (I’ve never paid much attention to it.) The Money Pit and The Burbs are both watchable. If you want to see just how zany Hanks used to be, try to find an episode of Bosom… Read more »

Mwerty
Mwerty
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

I was born in the late 80’s but was effectively a 90’s kid. I missed their whole comedic careers as well as the wacky music videos on MTV. I watched reruns of the Beetlejuice cartoons as well as the real movie but I never knew he was in there. Winona Ryder used to be my favorite actress growing up so I didn’t pay much attention to Beetlejuice, I’m afraid. I’ll have to see the movie again since I was 5-6 when I first saw it. I’ve seen A League of Their Own, Big, and Splash on TV, but I guess… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Mwerty

Definitely rewatch Beetlejuice. Keaton’s performance is one of the great comedic performances on the decade. He steals the movie in roughly 20 minutes of screen time. Hanks’ comedy career started off with a bang with Splash. But it actually didn’t go very well. He had a lot of flops like The Man With One Red Shoe and Volunteers. There was a time when it looked like his career was over. After Bonfire of the Vanities, he made a decision to reshape his career. He got very selective about his projects. A League of Their Own was a very important movie… Read more »

HHGeek
HHGeek
10 years ago
Reply to  Mwerty

1) Was Robin Williams ever as big a *cinematic* comedy star as Jim Carrey? Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the guy – my first ever TV crush, I’m eternally proud to say – but surely his comedy success was primarily TV and stand-up? I can’t honestly think of many comedy films he’s been in compared to serious. But then, I’m in the UK, so maybe the release focus isn’t the same. 2) 2 Golden Globes for drama + “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” are blinding giveaways that Carrey can do drama as well as anyone. Your statement: >… Read more »

Jeff
10 years ago
Reply to  HHGeek

Re: 3. Boomerang was a sort of comedy/dramatic role and Dreamgirls was his one straightforward dramatic role. He was up for an Oscar for it. He seemed to be on a solid track for the award. Then came Norbit and the ensuing backlash. We’ll never know for sure if that cost him the award. But it’s a likely possibility. After that, he focused his attention on family films for the remainder of the decade. As far as Jim Carrey goes, in some ways he fell into the same trap Mike Myers did: the comedic roles that brought him fame were… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Jeff

I think that last sentence is a pretty big understatement.

HHGeek
HHGeek
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

I did read an interview not so long ago (around the time of “… Phillip Morris”, IIRC) in which he said that the official career policy had always been to do the crowd pleasers and then intersperse the more interesting pieces, essentially to keep himself interested. If he was in hock to the box office hits alone, he’d have worked a lot more. But douchebag? I dunno. Utterly, completely misguided on the autism thing, I agree. Clearly thinking with whichever bits of him were in thrall to Jenny “University of Google” McCarthy rather than his brain. Yet I don’t think… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  admin

Jim Carrey: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked: http://whatculture.com/film/jim-carrey-5-awesome-performances-and-5-that-sucked-2.php Jim Carrey is without question one of the most famous comic actors in the history of movies, riding high in the mid-90s with his unforgettable turns in comic classics such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask and Dumb & Dumber. He then opted to tend towards more serious fare intermingled with his comic forays, yet in recent years he has seen something of a career downturn, with his movies generally drawing modest critical and financial returns at best. Still, he’s pretty much the best thing in this week’s Kick-Ass… Read more »

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago
Reply to  Mwerty

Jim Carrey’s rebound: http://www.laineygossip.com/Jim-Carreys-career-rebound/24483 I was a big fan of Jim Carrey when I was a kid. In Living Color was one of my touchstones, one of my earliest influences and it (and Kids in the Hall–hands down, Canada’s most important cultural export besides Strange Brew) was one of the first things that made me want to be a comedian. I loved Carrey on that show. Fire Marshall Bill? Please. It’s still funny today. And I loved his early movies, especially Dumb & Dumber. I was twelve when Dumb & Dumber came out. I was the target audience. The problem… Read more »

RB
RB
10 years ago

interesting comments on Carrey’s career, Mwerty. he doesn’t seem any more creepy than anyone else in a midlife crisis…as Lebeau noted, perception is key when you’re in the public eye. As with any comedian, the shtick gets old unless the person reinvents themself, and he has evidently been trying. Whether he can resurrect his career or not, remains to be seen? The vaccination controversy is worth exploring but it’s so complicated that neither Carrey or his former GF Jenny McCarthy are authorities on the topic. However I don’t think they were being irresponsible in using their celebrity to raise awareness… Read more »

Mwerty
Mwerty
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

Lol- I don’t really think people going through their midlife crises are creepy. You’re right though, he’s not the only middle aged guy. My perception is that of a girl occasionally stared at too long by older guys and I find that creepy. If Burt Wonderstone had been seen by more people, I’m pretty sure it would be easier for Carrey to reinvent himself. I enjoyed every second of his presence and he usually adds to the movie. McCarthy and other proponents of the vaccinations=autism movement have influenced many people to forgo vaccinations. It’s very hard to convince those parents… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

Do you think if Carrey were to make an Ace Ventura sequel at this age that it would still be funny? I tend to think a young idiot can be laughed off, but a middle-aged idiot comes across as sad.

RB
RB
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Point taken, you hit the nail on the head, playing Ace Ventura now would not work for Carrey. This is not to say that he can’t continue to be an excellent physical comic – just that he needs different characters for it to work, characters that don’t require him to play 25 or 30. Look at Chevy Chase…his Clark Griswold is the movie world’s funniest middle aged man. No one has ever done midlife better! There are endless examples of comics who maintain a certain zaniness as they age, the key is they evolve instead of trying to stay the… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

Agreed. Comics can age, but it’s a tricky transition that few pull off. Bill Murray has done it nicely. In the clip, Carrey records himself professing his love for Emma Stone – 26 years his junior. He tells her he would marry her if he was “a lot younger” and they would have “chubby, freckled babies”. Then he tells her the sex would be amazing. One gets the sense he’s kidding around the way an awkward teen jokes with his 1 female friend. He’s hoping she’s into it, but if she’s not he can play it off like a big… Read more »

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Jim Carrey’s Emma Stone Crush Is Killing His Career (VIDEOS):
http://thestir.cafemom.com/technology/125107/jim_carreys_emma_stone_crush

RB
RB
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Correction to my post, Emma Stone, not Emma Roberts. probably about the same age, though. Anyway, watched the clip. OMG… easy stomach! Sick! Never mind Twitter, his wife or GF needs to close off his Youtube account immediately!
Maybe it was intended as humor…. I didn’t get any sense that there was any way he could pass that off as a joke.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

I know, right?

xxadverbxx
10 years ago

Was a bit surprised to see this WTHH, and think its a bit premature. Makes me further wonder exactly how you pick someone for WTHH?

Also best line: If General Zod (the real General Zod, not that Man of Steel crap) tells you to change your attitude, you change your attitude

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  xxadverbxx

Terrence Stamp is the man. I’m tempted to go out and find a copy of Yes Man for his cameo. The selection process is highly secretive. There’s the poll results which sometimes I follow and sometimes I don’t. Early in the year, I cranked out an article a week following the poll results slavishly. This summer, I have been following my muse so to speak. For example, I was ready to return to poll results when I realized that a Phoebe Cates article would likely be immensely popular. And I turned out to be right. But even I have been… Read more »

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

JIM CARREY TOYS WITH MORE CAREER SUICIDE: http://www.showbiz411.com/2009/05/13/20090513jim-carreys-career-weirdness-cannes-other-stars Jim Carrey‘so talented, so funny, so perplexing. Remember the good old days of ‘Liar Liar,’ ‘Ace Ventura,’ even ‘The Truman Show.’ Carrey had it all. I didn’t even mind him playing Andy Kaufman in ‘Man on the Moon.’ My goodness”Bruce Almighty’ was six years ago already! But there was also ‘The Cable Guy.’ Yikes! A disaster. ‘The Number 23,’ which, let’s face it, no one saw. ‘The Majestic’ was terrible, and no one could make heads or tails of ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.’ (Stop pretending you did!) Now comes ‘I… Read more »

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago

Jim Carrey’s Career-Sullying Stunt: http://www.newsmax.com/Hirsen/Carrey-Stunt-Funny-Die/2013/04/01/id/497243 Jim Carrey received a great deal of news coverage last week, following a posting of what was supposed to be a comedic video on the Funny or Die website. The video in which Carrey stars is titled “Cold Dead Hand” and features content that ridicules those who hold the Constitution in the highest regard and is dismissive of the Second Amendment. All of this is conveyed while simultaneously attempting to tarnish the reputation of the late great Hollywood film legend Charlton Heston. The Funny or Die website’s name reflects a mutual understanding on the part… Read more »

xxadverbxx
10 years ago

HEY! Personally I liked the Majestic. Definitely not up to Truman Show or Eternal Sunshine levels, but its an enjoyable movie. Probably would have been better without that WD girl (so happy when her char died FINALLY, god she messed things up, even when she was trying to un-mess things), and she wasn’t strong in the film, but still it was a good movie in my book. Anyways, have you ever done one for Ashton? Guess Who is on TV and it made me ponder that. I wouldn’t really say he ever became a real big name like at least… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  xxadverbxx

The Majestic is better than its reputation suggests. But there’s a fine line between an homage and a rip-off. Critics felt like The Majestic came down on the side of a rip-off. There wasn’t a hook to draw in audiences who weren’t interested in a modern day Capra movie. It was probably just an ill-advised concept. Kutcher is more TV star than movie star. He had a few movies and then retreated back to TV. But he is currently on the highest rated show on TV. It will probably be a while before I get around to him. I’d spend… Read more »

xxadverbxx
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Oh right, I forgot he was on Two and a Half Men. Saw a few eps of it, and never even got close to seeing what the appeal of that show is. As such, I kind of forget about it from time to time.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  xxadverbxx

I’m in the same boat. Doesn’t appeal to me at all. And yet it keeps chugging along. In general, I lost interest in traditional sit-coms years ago. Arrested Development was the final nail in the coffin. I enjoy Modern Family. I liked 30 Rock. But I can’t watch Two and a Half Men or The Big Bang Theory.

xxadverbxx
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

There isn’t much TV out right now that I like either. I’m watching Arrow hoping they don’t try to milk it for all its worth like they did Smallville. Once Upon a Time is okay, but after two seasons already is feeling a bit long and so I hope the next is the last. Walking Dead someone just got me into… And to think of it, none of those shows I believe count as sitcoms. Oh and Mythbusters, when I can catch an ep :3 Never got into 30 Rock, Big Bang Theory I can stand if I’m with someone… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  xxadverbxx

We watch a lot of the same shows apparently. I watch Once, but it’s pretty bad. It fills the Desperate Housewives void – which is a show I should have given up a long time ago. The Walking Dead is terribly written 99% of the time. But the zombies usually provide entertainment value. That or making fun of it the next day. Mad Men and Breaking Bad are about as good as it gets. And there are some reality shows I watch as guilty pleasures. I never miss Survivor. And Big Brother is a summer ritual.

xxadverbxx
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Once was entertaining enough, but I really feel it should have just ended after the first season. I am a bit excited for season 3’s Neverland, but in truth it’ll probably taper off quickly. Breaking Bad is amazing, still need to watch the 5th season though :/ Keep hoping Netflix will get it now that its on DVD. Slightly scared though for I thought season 4 had a pretty good ending that, for the most part, could have worked as an ending to the series. Most shows sadly seem to fall into that same trap. The one of “We’re popular,… Read more »

xxadverbxx
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

And thinking of Ashton, he’s apparently staring in the upcoming Steve Jobs based movie XD

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  xxadverbxx

Because they look so much alike…

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Since we’re on the subject of “That ’70s Show” almuni: http://news.moviefone.com/2012/12/06/laura-prepon-70s-show-least-successful/ On That ’70s Show, sassy Donna Pinciotti was one of the most likable, relatable characters. The wise-cracking yet goodhearted neighbor, played by Laura Prepon, was smart, funny and adept at handling (and rolling her eyes at) her totally insane parents. It’s possible that I transferred some of my goodwill towards the character to the actress who played her. At the time, Prepon (to me, at least) seemed the most likely of the cast to go on to bigger and better things. After all, she was both striking and down-to-earth,… Read more »

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago

The “Fetch” Effect: 8 Actors that Hollywood Has Tried, and Failed, to Make Happen: http://www.pajiba.com/seriously_random_lists/the-fetch-effect-8-actors-that-hollywood-has-tried-and-failed-to-make-happen.php Topher Grace: I don’t quite know what went wrong with Topher Grace after he left “That 70’s Show.” He’s likable and winsome, but he doesn’t really have that feature film presence, even though his cameo in Ocean’s 12 suggested that he might become one of those stars someday. It didn’t happen. Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! ($17 million) bombed, In Good Company ($45) performed only modestly, and he was a huge part of the problem in Spider-Man 3. Between 2004 and 2010, he was… Read more »

HHGeek
HHGeek
10 years ago

Carrey’s a superb actor when necessary, and articles like this often a) come to the same conclusion that he’s still better US domestic box office than they realised, and b) fail to realise how well his films perform internationally. I think there are several aspects to the problem: – audience expectation that he’ll always be the funny, stretchy guy, rarely serious; – so partly that neither they (nor he) nor filmmakers are prepared to let him get older; – that he does suffer from a palpable need to be loved, alongside an overt vulnerability to pain, leading to honesty never… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  HHGeek

Wow. Great comment. I agree with pretty much all your points. This was one of those articles I started with a certain set of expectations and came away realizing how wrong I was. I definitely came away with a greater appreciation both for Carrey’s talent and his dedication. If he was cast as Superman, I think he’d jump out of windows until he could fly. But you’re right about his choices. He’s made some headscratchers. The mawkish material has prematurely put his dramatic career in the same place Robin Williams eventually ended up. Also, there’s no doubt that Carrey’s original… Read more »

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

The Lost Roles of Jim Carrey: http://splitsider.com/2011/03/the-lost-roles-of-jim-carrey/ 1. Saturday Night Live (multiple auditions in the ‘80s) Jim Carrey auditioned to be part of the cast of SNL multiple times in the 1980s. One of Carrey’s unsuccessful bids was in 1986, the year that Lorne Michaels was assembling a new cast after the disappointing 1985-86 season. The producers added Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, and Jan Hooks to the cast, but passed up Jim Carrey. This is one of the strongest casts in the show’s history, but it’s questionable how Carrey would have fit in. His brand of over-the-top physical comedy would… Read more »

HHGeek
HHGeek
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Thanking your for your kind words. > “If he was cast as Superman, I think he’d jump out of windows until he could fly.” There are times I suspect he probably has .. > “And audiences that turned their noses up at his early goofiness were reluctant to give him a chance.” Excellent point. I’m used to people judging me *heavily* for rating him as an actor, but hadn’t got around to crystallising the argument that neatly. Coincidentally I saw Ace Ventura 2 for the first time last night (on TV). I can see why, after that, he’d develop a… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  HHGeek

I remember people telling me they didn’t want to see Man on the Moon because they didn’t like Jim Carrey. I pointed out that this was a far cry from Ace Ventura. Didn’t matter. There are certain people who really like turning their noses up at things. These people tend to support the kinds of movies Carrey wanted to make. But they would never entertain the idea. If I recall correctly, Entertainment Weekly did a story on the 20th anniversary of Jaws in 1995. This was just as Carrey was in his $20 million dollar paycheck phase. The article had… Read more »

HHGeek
HHGeek
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

I do get the Marmite aspect of Carrey; I’m on the other end of the see-saw with Adam (ick) Sandler. It’d probably take the latter working with Werner Herzog for me to pay to see him in a film, and even then it’d only be morbid curiosity which drove me to it.

Love the Spielberg story. With you in hoping that one day it might happen.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  HHGeek

And I’m with you on Sandler. What the hell, America? My faith in humanity was restored a little when Jack and Jill and My Boy flopped. But then Grown Ups 2 is a big hit? Seriously? I don’t get people.

I actually always liked and admired Carrey even if I didn’t always care for his movies. Even now, there’s a lot of untapped potential there. But he needs a good director to reign it in sometimes or (like Robin Williams) he can come off as too needy and desperate.

HHGeek
HHGeek
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

On the director thing, I do actually in my most psychotic moments wonder what a Herzog / Carrey collaboration might look like. The immovable discipline meets the untameable freak. Scary!

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  HHGeek

That would be interesting. I wonder if Carrey would still welcome a powerful director “sitting on him”.

HHGeek
HHGeek
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

I think so. The man does seem insatiably curious to push his limits. It may not always work out well, but you can’t say he doesn’t try!

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  HHGeek

More often than not, Carrey delivers. The movie he is in may or may not deliver, but Carrey does go above and beyond. He seems to have a cycle where he pushes his limits, gets rejected and then retreats back to safe territory. It’s been a little while since he really challenged himself unless you count getting buff.

HHGeek
HHGeek
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Yeah, all of that. Other than that I think “Phillip Morris” is still underrated / overlooked. Don’t forget that it did get cinematic release outside the US, at the time of original release, and was (understandably) well-received.

As I said in an earlier post, it seems easy for Americans to forget Carrey’s wider international appeal. That doesn’t mean that he is properly appreciated elsewhere either, but it does contribute to his box office value in a way that the Sandlers of this world can’t really match.

RB
RB
10 years ago

While trying to assemble an Amazon order, I was watching some clips of “Eternal Sunshine” last night. Dang, that is a very different Jim Carrey! It seems more like the old art house Hollywood of the very early 70s rather than mainstream.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

It’s pretty unique. I think it defies categorization. Despite the fact Carrey is the lead, I wouldn’t classify it as a Jim Carrey movie. That carries certain expectations.

RB
RB
10 years ago

Lots of interesting discussions in this blog about the hurdles that have to be jumped by comic actors. It can be done, easy example, Dan Ackroyd. Starting with Driving Miss Daisy and hasn’t stopped working since.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

Aykroyd is a bit of an outlier. For one thing, he usually played the straight man to Belushi, Murray or Chase. So it wasn’t as big of a leap to move to dramatic roles. Also, he didn’t reinvent himself as a dramatic leading man like Williams or Hanks. He has just made a practice of inserting himself into supporting or even cameo roles. He’s been doing it for decades. He even showed up in the We Are the World video when Prince was a no-show. Whenever you have a bit part for a heavy-set older gentleman, you call Aykroyd. He… Read more »

cinemarchaeologist
10 years ago

I can laugh my ass off at DUMB & DUMBER (though it’s mostly in spite of him), and he was actually quite good in MAN ON THE MOON. I haven’t seen ETERNAL SUNSHINE, which seems rather shameful, but there is it. Beyond these flicks, though, Carrey’s feature outings are, like him, painfully unfunny, and, like those of Adam Sandler, played a major role is absolutely murdering genre comedy. He’s one of the “comedians” who popularized the idea that merely being loud is “funny”–the whole of his routine is loud ranting, goofy faces, fart noises, etc. If he’d come along when… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

I can agree with a lot of your criticisms. I never liked Carrey’s more outrageous antics. And a lot of his movies are really painfully unambitious. I often cite Bruce Almighty as a movie that could have been great but it very deliberately played to the masses and was worse for it. Immensely popular, but a crappy movie. You should give Eternal Sunshine a look. It’s easily his best movie and performance. But more than that, it’s just a good flick. Taken with Man on the Moon and The Truman Show plus some of his comedies, I think it paints… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  admin

I think that Jim’s image as a goofy, manic physical comedian to most people is another reason why Jim’s recent anti-gun (and to a lesser extent, anti-vaccine w/ Jenny McCarthy) stance perhaps makes him look bad. Jim just if you ask me, comes across as very self-aggrandizing, alarmist and narrow when delivering his point of view. Most people have no interest in accepting Ace Ventura/Lloyd Christmas/Fire Marshall Bill as this big moral crusader (especially if Jim is going to make utterly childish insults towards people who dare to disagree w/ him like Fox News). It’s simply way too much to… Read more »

Terrence Clay
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

10 Movies That Changed Your Mind About Actors You Hated: http://whatculture.com/film/10-movies-changed-mind-actors-hated.php/2 10. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind – Jim Carrey Compared to some of the folk on this list, the world has always seemed fairly evenly divided on Jim Carrey, which earns him a place right here at number 10. Carrey, of course, was one of the best loved comedy actors of the ’90s, having appeared in hits like The Mask, Liar Liar, Dumb and Dumber and Ace Ventura. Chances are if you didn’t like one of those movies, though, that you don’t like any of the others (maybe… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Chloe Moretz Takes Aim at Jim Carrey’s Stance on ‘Kick-Ass 2′ Violence: http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2013/08/09/chloe-moretz-takes-aim-at-jim-carreys-stance-on-kick-ass-2-violence/ Jim Carrey plays a big role in Kick-Ass 2 as Colonel Stars and Stripes, but the actor isn’t taking part in the film’s promotional release — not intentionally, at least. In June, Carrey distanced himself from Kick-Ass 2 due to the film’s level of violence, citing the school shootings in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, as the reason for his change of heart. Others involved with the film don’t see things Carrey’s way — like Chloe Moretz, for instance, who spoke with The Sun about her thoughts on how… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Jim Carrey’s whole stance regarding not wanting to promote “Kick-Ass 2” makes little to no logical sense in my book. First and foremost, even if Jim made the movie prior to the Sandy Hook incident, it’s foolish to act like this wasn’t the first mass shooting of recent time. And seemingly by Jim’s logic, Hollywood might as well ban ultra violent action movies (since it’s quite easy to find a moral outrage over it) in general. Secondly, what exactly does “Kick-Ass 2” have in common w/ Sandy Hook besides the most basic elements (is there a scene involving small children… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Jim’s whole attitude about the gun issue in America and the Sandy Hook tragedy sort of reminds me of people like Rosie O’Donnell and Drew Barrymore (in reference to the “Charlie’s Angels” films) after the Columbine incident. What I mean is that it seems like some people who are for stricter gun control laws in light of these school shootings as these people whom I’ve mentioned don’t want to look at a “bigger picture”. More to the point, there’s always going to be people in our world w/ violent tendencies w/ or w/o guns at their immediate disposal. I would… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

ALL THE CRIMINALS HAVE GUNS: http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/charlies_angels.htm Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 From: Joyce Sorry, didn’t see the movie. When the 3 actresses were on MTV with their “We’re not voting for the Bush’ son” t-shirt on, I couldn’t stomach spending my money on their movie. As usual, Hollywood wants to slander my political party and then ask me to go and spend my money on their films. I have limited myself to view Independent Films only where the “real” creative people are. I have lost any respect that was still lingering for Hollywood since this election. Their anti-gun politics is… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Not Yet Farewell to Arms, but Films Have Fewer Guns: http://articles.latimes.com/2001/may/28/entertainment/ca-3444 Across sound stages everywhere, guns are getting fired–not on the set, but from it. Take Drew Barrymore’s decision to keep guns out of the hands of “Charlie’s Angels.” When interviewed in November by Rolling Stone, she gave two reasons, one having to do with anti-gun sentiments (“People just sit behind their [expletive] weapon and they can kill somebody and it’s just so cowardly”) and the other with simple ennui (“I feel like I’ve seen that [gun-play] in so many movies”). Her decision didn’t stop the karate-chopping “Angels” from ranking… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

What Went Wrong?: Vol. 34 – Recently Released Edition: http://znculturecast.wordpress.com/2013/08/20/what-went-wrong-vol-34-recently-released-edition/ Jeff Wadlow’s follow-up to the surprise Matthew Vaughn hit from 2010 disappointed in fifth place last weekend with a 13 million dollar take, significantly less than the near 20 million the first film took home in Spring 2010. Backed by a rather strong marketing push from Universal, Kick-Ass 2 was at least expected to match the first film, but faltered and will probably fade away from theaters in the next week or two, as these types of movies tend to be front-loaded anyway. So, what exactly went wrong? Bad publicity… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Why The Kick-Ass Co-Creator Still Hates Jim Carrey: http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Why-Kick-Ass-Co-Creator-Still-Hates-Jim-Carrey-68508.html Before the release of Kick-Ass 2, Jim Carrey stirred some trouble when he withdrew support for the movie because of the harsh gun violence. Kick-Ass co-creator John Romita Jr. was, as an understatement, quite unhappy with this betrayal, and vows to never work with Carrey again. Romita was most upset because he felt Carrey could have played up his anti-gun agenda without hurting the movie, and hurting the crew that worked extremely hard to produce the film. John Romita Jr. and Mark Millar sat down with Comic Book Resources a few… Read more »

RB
RB
10 years ago

Watched “Liar, Liar” recently, and I could sort of see, both sides of Carrey. The rubbery face, pratfalls and mugging, and over the top delivery, aimed straight at the PG/PG13 market. I got a kick out of the outtakes shown during the closing credits where veteran actress Swoosie Kurtz lobbed this softball at him; “Over-actor!” ya think? Yet, there were glimpses of the more serious, dramatic side, powered by a big heart, that evidently showed up in Spotless Mind and Truman, that I have to check out.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

Yeah, there was some acting in Liar Liar beyond the over the top goofy stuff. It was a little syrupy for my tastes. But not bad.

Maryrose
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Not really I mean it was ok

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