Stanley is a shy, unassuming man who works in a bank and lives with Milo in a small apartment. One day, following a terrible bout with Murphy's Law, Stanley finds a curious-looking mask floating amidst some debris in a river. Later, at home, when he finally gets around to trying the mask on, Stanley learns that this isn't some archeological curiosity. It has power - the power to transform. From the moment the mask clings to his skin and his face turns green, Stanley's personality undergoes a radical shift.
Insecurity is replaced by flamboyance.
Physically, there seems to be little that he can't do, from twisting his body into a pretzel to taking a bullet in the chest or forming a tommy gun out of a balloon. And it's not that difficult a trail to follow. Carrey plays Stanley with surprising restraint, giving his zaniness free reign only when the mask is on. Stanley and the Mask might share the same body, but they're very different. One is a typical nice guy who finishes last.