Review of Liar Liar

Rating: 8/10 (18 April 2013)

Liar Liar is a hilarious comedy about a career-focused attorney, Fletcher Reede, who has a bad habit of lying in his personal as well as professional life. Ultimately, Fletcher's son, Max, becomes fed up with his father's lies and inconsistencies and decides to put an end to it using a birthday wish. Max wishes that for one day his father cannot tell a lie. Max's wish comes true setting forth a series of hysterical events and circumstances for Fletcher. This turn of events seems like a miracle to Max who can no longer be hurt by Fletcher's lies, but where Fletcher struggles the most is in his profession.
Fletcher's strong reputation as a defense attorney is based significantly on his impressive lying skills, a theme that is portrayed throughout the entire film. (The word "liar" is even used as a pun on the word "lawyer" in the very first scene of the film.) Fletcher's professional performance is basically rendered nonexistent without the ability to lie, mislead, or withhold a truthful answer. Fletcher's struggle is most evident during the trial of an extremely important divorce case Fletcher plans on winning by having his client commit perjury on the stand. But Fletcher cannot even ask a question if he knows the answer is a lie. The film continues to focus on Fletcher's predicament as an attorney with the inability to lie. At the end of his struggle, but before the day has ended, Fletcher ultimately has a change of conscience about the way he has been living his life. He realizes that he has been living senselessly and that Max is his first and most important priority.
Although the comedy is over the top at times, Jim Carrey plays the role perfectly and is as hilarious as he's ever been. I mean, how could we expect anything different? I laugh constantly every time I watch this movie and feel like it never gets old. I recommend it every chance I get!