Liar Liar

Plot synopsis:
In Los Angeles, California Fletcher Reede (Jim Carrey) is a career-focused lawyer and divorced father. He loves spending time with his young son Max (Justin Cooper); they often play a game where Fletcher makes his hand into "the Claw" and pretends to chase Max with it. But Fletcher has a habit of giving precedence to his job, breaking promises to Max and his ex-wife Audrey (Maura Tierney), and then lying about the reasons. Fletcher's compulsive lying has also built him a reputation as one of the best defense lawyers in the state of California as he is climbing the ladder in the firm for which he works. Ultimately, Fletcher misses his son's 5th birthday party because he is having sex with his boss Miranda (Amanda Donohoe). Max makes a birthday wish that: "I wish that for just one day... Dad can't tell a lie". Immediately, that wish actually and magically comes true.Fletcher, through a series of embarrassing incidents, finds that he is unable to lie, mislead, or even withhold a true answer. He blurts out exactly what he is thinking, like a Tourette's Syndrome twitch. Some of these instances include: Immediately after Max makes his wish, Fletcher has just had sex with Miranda and when she asks "was it good for you?" "I've had better," he responds.(The plot is reminiscent of The Twilight Zone episode "The Whole Truth," which involves a used car salesman being forced into uninhibited honesty by a haunted car.)The next morning, when an attractive girl says everyone is so nice to her, he says "Well, that's because you have big jugs! I mean... your boobs are huge! I mean... I wanna squeeze em'!"Also when he walks out of the elevator at his office and everyone is plugging their nose, he admits "It was me!". When an obese man asks "What's up?," he says, "Your cholesterol! Dead man walkin'!" He also tells a co-worker he doesn't know his name because he's not important enough. When he tries to explain his situation to his secretary Greta (Anne Haney), she doesn't believe him so he sets himself up good. He tells her to ask him something she thinks he would normally lie about. Greta asks him about a raise she wanted a couple months ago. Fletcher had told her if he gave her a raise from his own pocket it would make the other secretaries jealous so the company wouldn't allow it. She asks if that was true or if he just didn't want to "pony up the dough". Greta immediately quits.These incidents are inconvenient, as he is fighting a divorce case in court which, should he win, could be a huge boost to his career. His client is Samantha Cole (Jennifer Tilly) a young woman who wants a quick divorce after 14 years of marriage. His main witness is willing to commit perjury to win, but Fletcher discovers that he cannot even ask a question if he knows the answer will be a lie; during the case he even objects to himself when he tries to lie to get the desired information.Meanwhile, Audrey is planning to move to Boston with her new boyfriend Jerry (Cary Elwes), and decides that Max is going with them so that she can protect him from getting hurt by Fletcher. It is here that Fletcher learns about Max's birthday wish and goes to confront him. Fletcher tries to convince Max that adults need to lie as a part of their daily lives, but he cannot give any type of answer at why he should continue to lie to his son. Fletcher also figures out that since Max wished for him to tell the truth for only one day, he tries to do what he can to delay Samantha's case since the magic wish will expire at 8:15 p.m.... 24 hours after Max made the wish.Fletcher tries desperately to delay the case, even beating himself up, but he cannot conceal that he is able to continue, so Judge Marshall Stevens (Jason Bernard) insists that he does. Finally, Fletcher discovers a loophole in his case: he realizes that Samantha had lied about her age and therefore had signed her prenuptial agreement while she was only 17... still a minor, thus rendering it invalid. This allows him to win his case truthfully, but the repercussions become a catalyst to his understanding of what he himself is about to lose. Samantha, who only cared about her ex-husband's money, takes custody of her children purely so her ex-husband would be forced to continue paying her for child care and literally snatches the children out of the arms of their good and caring father. Fletcher then has a crisis of conscience and shouts at the judge to reverse the decision, and is taken to jail for contempt of court. Audrey refuses to pay his bail, which is eventually paid by Greta, who forgives him for his earlier rude truth-tellings after hearing he "went all noble" in front of their firm's senior partner.Now recognizing his son Max as his highest priority, Fletcher struggles to keep him. He hurries to the airport, but Audrey and Max's plane has already left the terminal. Desperate, Fletcher sneaks onto the tarmac by hiding in a piece of luggage, steals a motorized staircase, and manages to gain the pilot's attention by throwing his shoe at the cockpit window, forcing him to abort the flight. However, Fletcher's victory is cut short when he crashes into a barrier and is sent flying into a baggage tug, which causes a chain reaction that leaves Fletcher unconscious and with both of his legs broken. After waking up, he tells Max how much he cares about him and how sorry he was for breaking his promises. Despite realizing now that it is 8:30 pm and no longer being under the wish's influence, Fletcher means what he says and adds that Max is his priority, and Max convinces Audrey to stay in Los Angeles.One year later. Fletcher and Audrey are celebrating Max's birthday. The lights go off when Max blows out his birthday candles. When they go back on, Fletcher and Audrey are kissing. Fletcher asks Max if he wished for his mother and his dad to get back together and Max replies "No, I wished for roller blades!" The family seemingly returns to normal as Fletcher chases Audrey and Max around the house with "the Claw".Over the end credits, a montage of bloopers and outtakes from the movie is shown.

Tags: comedy, humor, entertaining, adult comedy

Review:
Jim Carrey puts so much energy and pure comedic brilliance into this movie that we hardly noticed how corny and hackneyed was the plot or how wearily didactic was the moral lesson for all fathers who neglect their children for the goddess of success.
To laugh at something deeply troubling in our nature is a way of dealing with it.So the genius of this movie is first the talent of Jim Carrey, but second, for kids who come to the realization of adult mendacity for the first time, it is the discovery of comedy as a way to cope.
See this obviously for Jim Carrey, one of the great comedic talents of our time, an original who would have delighted Charlie Chaplin with his extraordinary muggings, his blatant audacity and his suburb timing.(Note: Over 500 of my movie reviews are now available in my book "Cut to the Chaise Lounge or I Can't Believe I Swallowed the Remote!" Get it at Amazon!).
Jim Carrey is often a great comedian, but this is him at his funniest side.The story is very funny and entertaining: Fletcher Reede, a lawyer with the habit of lying and breaking promises, suddenly sees himself forced to become honest during the next 24 hours after his son's birthday wish comes true.
Jim Carrey is great as Fletcher Reede, but there are other equally good actors, like Maura Tierney as Audrey Reede, Cary Elwes as Jerry and little Justin Cooper as Max (Fletcher's son).
Lots of very funny lines are another attribute.Directed by Tom Shadyac, "Liar Liar" is the best thing Jim Carrey and Tom Shadyac ever did together and slightly superior than the later "Bruce Almighty"..
I'm not kidding when I say that I know a dozen people where we just rehearse the lines from Liar Liar back and forth, because all the scenes are just so memorable.Fletcher Reed is a lawyer who, surprise, lies to win cases.
More comedy ensues as Fletcher deals with the pressure on how to learn to tell the truth to win the case and prevent his son and ex wife from moving to Boston with her new boyfriend.Liar Liar will make your sides hurt and you'll watch this movie again and again when you see how hilarious Jim Carrey is.
My sister isn't a Jim Carrey fan and even admitted that she had more than a few good laughs watching this film.
Jim Carrey's great comedy acting skills were a crucial element of this film, but they are not the only redeeming value of the movie itself.
With a huge career changing case that is based solely on lies about to go to trial, he is stuck in an unfamiliar position, that may just change his life.Jim Carrey is on top form for this one, giving one of his most hilarious performances to date, he is well supported by the likes of Jennifer Tilly, Swoosie Kurtz and Amanda Donohue, and the winning concept of the movies theme realises its potential.7/10 Great fun.
The plot is good, and as the film barely takes 90 minutes it's fairly fast-paced(well, for a Jim Carrey comedy, anyway); I don't think there ever passes 5 minutes without one single joke.
Liar Liar is one solution to the problem of what kind of movie vehicle to write for overacting, rubber man Jim Carrey.
Jim Carrey plays a liar lawyer called Fletcher Reede.His son Max (Justin Cooper) makes a birthday wish that his father can't tell a lie in 24 hours.And the wish comes true.
That gets Fletcher in many embarrassing situations.It's hard to tell the truth all the time especially for a lawyer.That's not the only problem Fletcher is having.His ex-wife Audrey (Maura Tierney) is moving to Boston with his boyfriend Jerry (Cary Elwes).That must be stopped.Jim Carrey does incredible role work in this Tom Shadyac's 1997 comedy Liar Liar.Jim is amazing comedian.He can pull his face just like Jerry Lewis.This is completely a Jim Carrey show.There are many hilarious scenes in the courtroom.Liar Liar is for all you liars out there..
True the plot is a little corny, my only criticism of the movie, but Jim Carrey's wonderfully energetic and most of the time hilarious performance more than compensates.
Liar Liar is easily one of Carrey's better films, I do confess I will need to see a few more of his movies before concluding which one's his best to save bias.
A heartbroken and often disappointed 5 year old boy makes a birth day wish that his father, a prominent and up-and-coming civil attorney, cannot lie for just one day.In this vehicle, through obvious wish magick, the wish is granted.In pique form of Jim Carrey's classic Dick Van Dyke-meets-Jerry Lewis style, the results of his son's wish wreaks total havoc on his life, and on the lives of those around him.With an all-star cast, fine direction, and expert screen writers, this production is top notch, classic Jim Carrey fare.
Frenetically funny high concept comedy with Carrey cast as a chronic lying lawyer who finds himself under the spell of his 5 year old son's birthday wish for him to tell the truth for 24 hours with some truly inspired slapstick and painfully truthful one-liners.
Unlike in Ace Ventura, Carrey actually has a solid (and original) plot to work with here, and the messages about the dangers of neglecting your family can be as touching as you want them to be - but I'd advice you just shut out the messages and enjoy Jim's madness.The movie is helped by a fantastic supporting cast, including a cute Maura Tierny as Fletcher's ex wife, Cary Elwes as the sublimely dorky stepdaddy, Jennifer Tilly as Fletcher's sexy client Samantha Cole, and the late Jason Bernard as the honourable (pfft) Judge Stevens.
Justin Cooper is also good as Fletcher's son Max, which says a lot since most Hollywood actors his age seemingly just graduated from the Hayden Christensen School of Being Annoying.The script is incredibly witty and hilarious - those who said that Americans can't make comedy beyond the usual Adam Sandler jokes need to think again.
The movie is about a slick lawyer (Jim Carrey)who fibs a lot, until one day his son makes a wish on his birthday that he cannot lie for one day which comes true, he ends up being humiliated and of course very daft.
Jim Carrey proves once again his prowess for physical, slapstick comedy in this hysterically funny film about a lawyer who finds himself unable to lie.
Liar Liar is a very good comedy about a lawyer who can't lie for an entire day because of a wish his son made when blowing out the candles on his birthday cake.
Because the boy is so disappointed by his dad, he wishes that the man will be honest for an entire day and surprise, surprise: his wish comes true.What you get is typical Jim Carrey, but it works perfectly if you ask me.
Liar Liar is a brilliant movie with a very original and well written storyline with a great cast that are able to be both very funny and serious in this movie.Jim Carrey is outstanding in this movie,he is without a doubt one of my favourite comedy actors, and while I don't think this is one of his best movies,his character is still absolutely hilarious,especially when he can't lie,and also surprisingly heartwarming and charming.Liar Liar is a very enjoyable movie that I would recommend to all fans of Jim Carrey, and to anyone looking for a great laugh,because this movie is funny all the way through.After his son makes a wish on his fifth birthday that his couldn't lie for a whole day,Fletcher Reede (Jim Carrey),a successful but selfish lawyer,is put in to a very awkward situation when he must go through a full day of work without being able to tell a single lie..
This is Jim Carrey at his best in a over the top performance where he plays a very eccentric character but not so much that it's ridiculous like his characters in the Ace Ventura or The Mask movies.
And at least his eccentric behavior is explained by him wanting to lie but not being able to do so for a 24 hour period of time.Carrey plays Fletcher Reed a lawyer who is a serial liar and is having a hard time handling the fact that for a 24 hour period of time he can't lie about anything because of a birthday wish his son made.The movie is probably right behind The Truman Show, Man in the Moon and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as the best work of his career..
A little summary (no spoilers), Jim Carrey plays Fletcher Reed, who's a divorced lawyer and likes to lie to people, even to his son, Max. On his birthday, Max wishes for his dad to not tell a lie for at least one day.It was this movie that got me into Carrey in the first place, which led me to watch more of his movies.
Good plot, pretty decent characters and really funny scenes make this a great movie and one of my favorite films of all time.
This movie is a must watch for all just for a simple reason to witness the greatness of Jim Carry, how he performs even the simplest scenes and takes it to the level which has been witnessed never before.
Carrey, One Of The Greatest Film Actors Ever, Performs his part here with such ease & aura, he leaves you spell-bound.Carrey stars as A pathologically lying lawyer, who desperately tries to grant his son's wish that he tell the truth for a 24-hour period.
It was funny watching an attorney that could not lie and the bizarre things he had to do at times to try and get around it and win the case, but it was also a bore watching him with his son and realizing how bad a father he was.
I Have A Quote That I Believe In "The Truth Shall Set You Free Or Get You Into A F##kload Of Trouble" & My Friends Think That Quote Came From My Viewing Of This Movie...It Would Be Hard To Imagine Not To Lie...If You Want My Beliefs On Lying Use The Lies To Protect People's Feelings...To Mask Yourself From People Using Lies Is Pointless.Trust Me.I Have Been Strapped To A Lie Detector The Entire Time I Was Writing The Review.As Far As Comedies Go Though...I've Had Better.
I suppose there's three basic points being made: first, if we all told the truth about everything it would cause a lot of trouble (think of Fletcher speaking to the woman he's never met on the elevator and telling her how much he likes her rather significant "endowment") and a lot of hurt even to the people we truly care about; second, if we were to lie about everything it would also cause a lot of trouble ; and, finally, don't ignore your kids - they're precious and they need our attention.It's a funny movie with a message.
Jim Carrey's best work starts with the story ideas that,when seen on paper,make you laugh.The whole idea of a lawyer who is unable to lie is indeed a funny one.I remember Carrey himself,in an interview plugging the film,said that he was drawn to the film based on that very idea.Couple that with Jim Carrey's great comedic abilities and you have a film worth watching.There are others,it should be noted,that worked just as hard to make the film funny as Carrey did,most notably Swoosie Kurtz and Carey Elwes.When ranking Jim Carrey's films from best to worst,no two people will rank the films in the same order,but I think it is safe to say that Liar Liar will end up in the upper tier of everyone's,or at least most people's list..
Jim Carrey stars in one of his best movies as Fletcher Reed, a lawyer who wins his cases by lying.He's got a new case coming up, but there's one problem...
Overall, Liar Liar is very funny and is one of Jim Carrey's best movies..
At times, it feels like Jim Carrey was the only one appearing in this movie, and everyone else was invisible in the background.
Although I can't say I'm a mega-fan of Jim Carrey's form of comedy, he was completely perfect for the role as Fletcher Reede, the arrogant lawyer who is as wholly strange as he is truly loving of his son.
His son, Max, hates this, so he wishes on his 5th birthday(since his Dad is too busy having sex) that his Dad will go one day without lying.This works, and his father gets himself in outrageous trouble for it.I was sheltered as a kid but I was allowed to see a few PG-13 movies.
Unable to lie as a result of a birthday wish, a lawyer who has built his career on fibs discovers how hard it is to tell the truth all the time in this Jim Carrey comedy vehicle.
In fact, the film's funniest bit comes in the end credits blooper reel as Swoosie Kurtz calls him an "overactor" - though there is also a fun part in which he tells his son that not only will his face not freeze if the wind changes, but in fact some people (Carrey) make living out of making funny faces!
Jim Carrey was outrageously funny in the role of Fletcher Reede; An overworked lawyer who tells one lie after another and on his son Max's 5th birthday, he wishes his dad can go through one day without telling a lie.I thought Jim Carrey was perfect in the role as he does his usual zany acts as he tries to tell a lie, but can only tell the truth.
In addition, the things he will do to himself in the bathroom scene in the courthouse as I found out no sound effects were used in that scene where he's actually slamming his head and body into walls, the radiator heater as ell as the toilet seat.If there are any drawbacks, Jim Carrey tends to overact a bit, but he's someone who can do it and get away with it.Jennifer TIlly's character, Samantha Cole, Fletcher's client was good, but this was different to me as she plays an evil person who wants to take her ex-husband to "the cleaners" in the divorce.
The story gets a beautiful turn when Max on his 5th birthday makes a wish that his daddy would'nt lie for one whole day and as expected this wish comes true and thus Jim Carrey gets an opportunity to show his acting skills and yet again he gives a flawless performance as a comic actor.
This is yet another visual treat for the countless Jim Carrey fans who have enjoyed him in films like ACE VENTURA: PET DETECTIVE, DUMB AND DUMBER, THE MASK ...No amount of praise is sufficient to acknowledge his comic skills.
...and just watch the middle part of the film, the part where Jim Carrey's character (Fletcher Reede) can't lie.
Jim Carrey is just brilliant, absolutely hilarious but also handles the more emotional scenes in the film very well.Jim plays Fletcher Reede, a dedicated lawyer, so dedicated he has very little time to see his son, Max (Justin Cooper).
With Fletcher not being able to lie his day goes from bad to worse with some hilarious Memorable moments.Once again Jim Carrey has delivered another fine comedy with plenty of laugh out loud moments, everyone else in the film are also very good.
The wish comes true, and Jim Carrey delivers a career-topping performance as a scheming lawyer who craves the chance to lie but just can't get the words out of his mouth.
At his fifth birthday party Max (Justin Cooper) makes a wish that for just one day his inattentive father Fletcher (Jim Carrey) will be unable to tell a lie.
Miraculously the wish comes true which causes countless problems for Fletcher whose job as a lawyer may be in jeopardy unless he is able to lie.Director Tom Shadyac teams up with Jim Carrey for the first time since the hilarious Ace Ventura: Pet Detective' (1994) and while one may expect more of the same, Liar Liar' benefits somewhat from having a tighter and heart-warming story rather than just the usual Carrey hijinks.
The best Jim Carrey movie of all-time.
This was definitely the best Jim Carrey movie of all-time.
Another one of Jim Carrey's more recent works, LIAR LIAR wasn't as popular as some of his other early films, but this is a lot better than some of those.He keeps his trademark comic voice-variations, and juvenile crude humor which makes most parents not want their little kids to see it.
I love this movie, it's not Jim's funnies(That would be Dumb and Dumber) or his best performance (either in Batman Forever or The Truman Show) the bathroom scene makes it for me.
I loved this movie, I thought the story was very good and it show's off Carrey's comedic timing and ability.
Then Max Fletcher's son makes a birthday wish that for just one day he couldn't tell a lie.
The gags that delivered the best laughs were Jim Carrey's voices and funny faces.
If you are not really a Jim Carrey fan (like me) give this one a try: it might work for you too.I have never heard my 6 year old daughter laugh so hard as I she did during "Liar Liar".
anyway!) His son makes a birthday wish that for twenty four hours, his dad doesn't lie, and boy, for that twenty four hours, Fletcher Reid (Jim Carrey) is miserable.
Jim Carrey plays almost a straight role as a lawyer who can not tell a lie for 24 hrs.
So Jim Carrey tells everyone what he really thinks, and that makes many funny moments.