Entertaining, but not "deep"

Rating: Null/10 (29 June 1999)

I do wish that commentators would stop promoting this film as a deep and meaningful take on a voyeuristic society. Certainly, the plot line concept is a reversal of the sad US shock/chat shows with a twist of sci-fi.
In this case the "prisoner", Truman, is unwittingly exposing his (sanitised) private life on 24 hour TV, and is happily trapped in a safe world until he actually finds out that he is trapped.
But that's it really - the film is then plotted as a comic realisation of this concept with no further depth at all. It dips deeply into the American sugary sentiment pool, and is a vehicle tailored for Jim Carrey - an opportunity that he does not waste to be less "goofy".
Don't worry however, everything is handed to you on a plate in an explanatory section in the middle of the film, just in case you are a little confused. It's as sinister as a choc chip cookie.
So - entertaining, enjoyable, well produced - but leave it there! It will run and run on US cable for years to come.