a change of pace for funnyman Carrey

Rating: 7/10 (11 February 2013)

Jim Carrey has a serious role in "The Number 23" from 2007. Carrey of course isn't the first comic to take a serious role but this one is way out there.
Carrey plays an animal control worker - in other words, a dog-catcher, named Walter Sparrow. It's his birthday, and he goes after a dog that bites him and gets away, and makes him late to pick up his wife, Agatha (Virginia Madsen). While passing the time, she goes into a bookstore and finds a book she thinks he might like.
The book is a mystery that has to do with the number 23. Walter becomes very involved with the story. It seems to mirror his own, and he starts to see the number 23 everywhere. He has wild, horrible dreams, and soon is completely obsessed, to the point where he has to track down the author. He believes it to be the man accused of murdering a young woman in the story, so he goes to prison to see him. The man denies that he is the author, and also that he killed the girl.
Walter goes to the fleabag hotel where the novel takes place and asks for number 23, and finds himself living the novel. His wife and son can't seem to help him as he veers more and more out of control.
I don't remember this film being released, and I didn't read any reviews of it today. I actually thought it was pretty good. Normally this isn't my type of thing as it's pretty much a horror film. But I found it engrossing with some fascinating things that happen along the way. I know what a strong dramatic actor Jim Carrey is from seeing him in "Doin' Time on Maple Drive," and he does a great job with the role of the confused, desperate, frightened Walter. Virginia Madsen is very good as his wife.
I found this an interesting, offbeat film.