Intriguing premise but overrated

Rating: 6/10 (26 August 2005)

The Truman Show has an intriguing premise - a reality TV show whose star is oblivious of the proceedings, believing it to be real life.
Jim Carrey turns in a strong performance as a man who ultimately realises that his whole life has been a sham. His growing awareness that all is not well is effectively essayed, and a long way from his previous OTT comic roles.
There are effective moments - the jarring product placements for the benefit of viewers, the reappearance of the father that Truman believed drowned as a child - but once the premise is established it all becomes rather predictable, and the satire rapidly tails off.
For a much more effective (and more prescient) satire on TV, I'd recommend "The Year of the Sex Olympics". Ignoring its low budget and certain dated aspects of its production, it is far more thought-provoking.
In the final analysis, "The Truman Show" would have worked better as an episode of "The Twilight Zone" and without the needless chase and escape scene at the end.