Classic Carrey

Rating: 9/10 (11 January 2016)

Jim Carrey careens through The Mask like Gumby on coke, a hopped up ball of energy that lights the screen up in glorious craziness that's pretty out there even for him. In casting a character that basically becomes a loony toons character in real life, they hit the nail on the head with Carrey, and he delivers in a tour de force piece of physical comedy that put him on the map in a huge way. Also bursting onto the scene in her official breakout role is Diaz, playing the luscious Tina Carlyle, a sultry lounge singer. Carrey's eyeballs pop out and his tongue rolls onto the table when he sees her dance. Audiences had the same reaction, and her work here catapulted her into the stardom we see her in today. Carrey plays mild mannered bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss, a pitifully beta push over who's about as good at talking to girls as he is dealing with his domineering boss and witch of a landlady. He's a wimp, a thorough Nancy boy, a set up which makes the eventual metamorphosis into The Mask all the more delectable of a payoff. When he hits proverbial rock bottom, he finds an ancient looking Mask in the harbour, and takes it home. Upon putting it on, he transforms into a living, breathing representation of his innermost desires and feelings, bursting out in a deliriously zany, green faced maestro of mayhem that can pretty much do..anything. It's somewhat Freudian, and there's even an interlude with Ben Stein as a droll psychiatrist who ponders Ipkiss's sanity before booting him from his office. Carrey as The Mask is the star of the show, an ever wisecracking ball of slapstick glee and mirth, whirlwinding his way from one over the top encounter to the other, with his trusty dog Max. He's finally given the stones to take what he wants, albeit in violent, creepy and demented fashion, and pursue Tina, in between bank robberies, assaults, car chases and Cuban dance numbers involving a troupe of singing cops. On his tail is nasty crime lord Dorian Tyrell (the intimidating Peter Greene, having a ball) and a grouchy police detective (Peter Riegert). The film is pure 90's cheese given a shot of surreal antics. There's a whole army credited to the visual effects, and one can see why when you look at the splendour on display, rushing past at such speed and precision you'll need a re-watch just to catch it all. One of Carrey's best, a milestone for Diaz, and some of the most fun I've ever had growing up with a film. S-s-s-s-smokin!!!!!