Clumsy And Confusing

Rating: 8/10 (26 September 2012)

The Number 23 is a psychological thriller film written by Fernley Phillips and directed by Joel Schumacher. The film features Jim Carrey, Virginia Madsen, Danny Huston, and Logan Lerman. The plot involves an obsession with the 23 enigma, an esoteric belief that all incidents and events are directly connected to the number 23, some permutation of the number 23, or a number related to 23. It is Carrey's first leading role in a suspense thriller.
Walter Sparrow is a middle-aged dogcatcher whose wife Agatha has bestowed him with an obscure mystery novel detailing the investigation launched by a tough-talking gumshoe named Fingerling whose every move seems to be overshadowed by the enigmatic eponymous number. After noting a series of alarming parallels shared between the fictional detective and himself, Walter is quickly drawn in to the story as the hard-boiled private investigator murders raven-wigged moll Fabrizia and pins the crime on her unsuspecting lover. Back in the real world, fiction seems to merge with reality as Walter and Agatha's close friend Isaac begins to ingratiate himself ever deeper into the couple's relationship and Walter begins experiencing a gruesome series of visions in which he violently murders an unfaithful Agatha. His mind fast descending into a dark and violent whirlwind of madness, Walter enlists the aid of Agatha and the pair's adolescent son Robin in seeking out the author of the mysterious tome and uncovering the sinister truth behind the so-called "23 enigma."
Jim Carrey as a schizophrenic murderer isn't convincing in this melodramatic film.Also,the story is half-baked. What makes it funny though is that Carrey's portrayal of a mentally disturbed person is what makes it comedic. Long, contemplative stares, and over-dramatized acting makes him a clichéd and uninteresting character rather than one odd enough to engage viewers.In addition to that,it is clumsy and mostly confusing.