V-Carded! Hall of Shame: Jim Carrey (The Mask)
Oh man…choosing just one movie of Jim Carrey’s for this is like choosing which Jackson is the most fucked up. And like the Jacksons, yet just one of them is the obvious choice.
Jim Carrey is always in the stereotypical “nice guy” role in most of his comedy movies like The Truman Show and Bruce Almighty. His characters tend to be so similar that sometimes it’s difficult for me to identify the movie right off the bat after flipping past it on TBS on a late night. But one stands out in particular to me for it’s “nice guy” message. Back in 1994 when adults and parents heard you mention this movie, they thought about that 80s film about the guy with the fucked-up face. But teenagers rolled their eyes…we knew better. We were talking about The Mask, of course.
Now in this movie’s defense, it never was supposed to be taken that seriously. It was a wacky and zany comedy, almost a live action cartoon in a way. But I have my reasons for singling this out above all his films, so for now let’s get into the movie first.
No sooner than two minutes in the movie do we see the main character Stanley Ipkiss (Carrey) attempting to woo his female bank coworker by trying to impress her with scoring two hard-to-get concert tickets. The woman sees she’s dealing with a chump and asks if he can get one more so her friend can go too, but Stanley tells her it’s impossible. He symps out and tells her that it’s okay if her and her friend go without him, and she gloats on about how he’s “the nicest guy.” Stanley’s coworker Charlie comes over and points out how that’s the most sickening display he’s ever seen. “I disagree…I think I’m wearing her down,” Stanley replies.
Stanley eventually catches sight of the vivacious lounge singer Tina Carlyle (Cameron Diaz) but acts like a typical dork during every interaction. After a string of bad luck, Stanley comes across a strange green mask in the river which transforms him into a powerful and zany green-faced version of himself appropriately called “The Mask.” This version of Stanley takes no shit and gives hell to his landlord, car repairmen and several thugs in an alley…all in style. (Who can forget the “balloon animal / tommy gun” scene?)
The next day at the bank, Charlie is talking about Tina and how women like her is always looking for the BBD - “Bigger, better deal.” “She’s an artist…she’s sensitive,” he says. Ugh. The coworker points out that he needs a more down-to-earth girl…such as the redheaded news-reporter that has just entered the bank, a cute woman named Peggy Brant.
Stanley recognizes her as a former advice columnist that he wrote in to titled “Nice Guys Finish Last.” Peggy says she got hundreds of letters from women looking for a guy just like him. Sure they do….free meals and presents from chumps don’t buy themselves. The two lightly flirt with one another and Peggy admits that she’s looking for a nice guy. (She has a hidden motive, read on.)
Later, Stanley transforms into The Mask and with his newfound confidence and mojo decides to go to the club to woo Tina. But not without making a stop at the bank where he works to “borrow” some money. Incidentally, he beats a group of thugs to the heist and gets into trouble with crime mobster Dorian Tyrell who happens to be Tina’s girlfriend.
Later on, Tina comes to see Stanley at the bank and he tries to be “Mr. Shoulder-to-cry-on.” Tina dreamily talks about The Mask as Stanley brags that he “knows” him personally and is all too eager to set up a date at her request with him. “Thanks Stanley, you really are a nice guy,” Tina says as she kisses him on the cheek. (Translation: “I’d never fuck you except if the script says so.”)
Stanley decides to see a book author about his troubles with Tina. After he manages to convince the author that he’s a complete nutjob with his mask story, the author gives some advice about Tina simply to get rid of him. “Go as yourself and as The Mask, because they are both one and the same beautiful person.”
During their date in the park, The Mask comes on WAY too strong and Tina goes cold, but the whole thing is ruined by the police who are now convinced The Mask and Ipkiss is one and the same. The Mask shakes the police off and removes the mask, being bailed out by a car ride from Peggy.
The two hide out in a printing warehouse as Stanley pours his heart out about what it’s like to be The Mask. “That letter that you sent my column? That was from a guy with more guts and more heart than any of the creeps that I’ve met in this city.” Guts? He wrote in anonymously to a fucking newspaper column, lady!
But it was all bullshit anyway. Peggy reveals her true nature when she immediately turns Stanley in to Dorian for the 50 thousand dollar bounty. Actually if you think about it, this whole situation is a wonderful analogy for marriage and divorce. Maybe there is some educational value in this movie after all, kids.
Throughout the duration of the movie, Dorian takes the mask for himself, kidnaps Tina and plans a heist at a charity ball. Stanley manages to save the day, clear his name and gets the girl. The last scene: “Sure you’re not going to miss this guy? When he’s gone, all that’s left is me.” Tina throws the mask into the river as the two kiss.
Now let me complete the real ending for you, what happens AFTER the credits. Tina got so sick and tired of boring Stanley that she left him for another guy who merely flirted with her using his eyes. Incidentally, Stanley worked himself into a deeper and deeper rut after frequently begging and crying to Tina to take him back that he took a revolver and shot himself. This caused a huge problem for Hollywood, which lost their leading actor for the sequel and was forced to release THIS piece of garbage. Yes that’s right folks….now you know HOW that embarrassment happened. (Actually I’m wondering if Carrey’s characters end up always shooting themselves as Carrey doesn’t seem to pop up in many sequels.)
Seriously though, I still like this movie…it was zany and funny and holds nostalgic value for me as it was a big movie during my teen years. But THAT’S EXACTLY WHY I chose Mr. Carrey in The Mask for the V-Carded! Hall of Shame. Because I have to wonder if this movie was impressional on teen boys right around that era with that whole “You-don’t-need-the-attitude-you-just-have-to-be-a-hopeless-romantic” crap mentality. Ironically this movie coincides right around the period of my “downfall” so that could very well have some merit.
Sorry Jim, pains me to do this. You’re funny and I wish I could be funny and lighthearted as you, but sometimes I guess humor just isn’t enough. Here’s your Buffalo Bill, sorry brutha. For what it’s worth, we had things a little better watching you than a generation later with a certain Star Wars icon.
But my humor aside, The Mask wasn’t all bad…it really is in some ways an analogy of how good and how powerful it feels to be so damned confident. Many men do it without a “mask,” and I can only hope to aspire to that level.
The Virgin Says:
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:41 am
There’s one more thing I want to point out about Jim Carrey that doesn’t directly relate onscreen, just because I KNOW someone is going to bring it up. Yes, I do know he’s dated quite the celebrity list.
However, those relationships went by very quickly and he’s been through two marriages as well.
Yet Another 20y/o Virgin Says Says:
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:55 am
I was just wondering when we would see another “Hall of Shame” article. Well done.
Yet Another 20y/o Virgin Says:
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:03 am
“Yet Another 20y/o Virgin Says Says”
Oops, that’s what happens when you are indiscriminate with the copy and paste functions.