a comedic classic for its irreverent humor and surprisingly awesome visuals

Rating: 5/10 (3 September 2019)

Despite a poorly constructed story, The Mask remains a comedic classic for its irreverent humor and surprisingly awesome visuals. Jim Carrey's perfect slapstick comedy cannot save a paper thin narrative and characterization. Cameron Diaz, in her first film appearance, stands alongside Carrey albeit being overshadowed, cementing herself as a sex symbol with a juicy performance. The motivations of the characters are not properly fleshed out for a satisfying conclusion. Having a weak antagonist also does not help.
The Mask can't be called a waste because the comedy is stupidly great, especially the police dancing sequence and Looney Tunes references, making the film essentially a live-action derivative of the iconic cartoon characters. However, as a satisfying film with great characters and story it drops the ball.
5/10