A letdown in general

Rating: 5/10 (23 February 2007)

Jim Carrey surprises us here by appearing in a serious mystery suspense movie. In the beginning, we can still recognize his smart-alecky sense of humor, but this disappears as the movie follows the paranoid obsession experienced by the protagonist, Walter Sparrow.
I like the fact that his whole family is involved in the development of his problem. I like the father-son relationship displayed, as Walter interacts with his son from beginning to end. His wife is played very well by Virginia Madsen. I was about to say "played very smartly", however, I remembered that it was her critical yet inexplicable action in the beginning of the movie that triggered the whole tragic chain reaction Walter had to undergo.
Bottomline, I expected something more. The weak set-up made the ensuing problem situation was too contrived. Despite majority opinion, I was satisfied with the ending. It is just that the route that director Joel Schumacher took towards that ending was unsatisfying.