Jim Carrey is fifty today (yes, fifty). I can’t help but have adoration for Mr Carrey. His extrovert nature and often overt physical performances have led to some of the funniest and also some of the most touching characters in cinema. While there are so many to choose from I am going to list my top five. Please comment below and tell me your favourite Jim Carrey performances!
5.- The Mask (1994)
Released the same year as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask firmly put Jim Carrey on the comedy map. Although Carrey became semi known in the early 90s for his zany characters in the sketch show ‘The Living Colour’, The Mask threw him into the limelight and his elastic physical style of comedy is now his brand mark.
The Mask
4. The Cable Guy (1996)
Funny yet slightly terrifying, Carrey showed what his physical humour and acting style could be when flipped on its head. This film is arguably one of Carrey’s most underrated.
The Cable Guy
3. The Truman Show (1998)
In my eyes, one of the most poignant pieces of cinema of the modern age. The Truman Show is the foundations in which Carrey’s branching out into more serious roles began. The combination of his emotional but simplistic performance matched with the films on trend social commentary made The Truman Show both a critical and box office success.
The Truman Show
2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
On a lot of favourite film lists including my own, Eternal Sunshine explores the different fractions of love and relationships through reality, memories and the loss of them. This is Jim Carrey at his most serious, most vulnerable and arguably, his best.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
1. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
Predictable choice? Maybe. That doesn’t make the fact that this film is still one of Carrey’s most loved roles. While I often find that this character has made audiences have a love/hate relationship with his acting, Ace Ventura: Pet detective is one of the most quotable, hilarious and bizarre films that no one but Jim Carrey could have pulled off.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective / When Nature Calls
There were so many choices for this list! Which Carrey roles are your favourite and why? Comment below!
This makes me feel old… Jim Carey has always been the big kid! I feel like my childhood just turned 50 :/
Still, nothing made me feel older than seeing Robin Williams on those Zelda adverts over Christmas… O.o
Not Cable Guy – NOT CABLE GUY! Gives me nightmares and I can totally relate myself to Matthew Broderick’s character – never again.
I’ve not been a huge fan of Jim Carrey’s films although two films do strike out as my favourites of his; Bruce Almighty definitely my second place but first place is Fun with Dick and Jane – really enjoyed that film!
Good blogging Louise
This is all lies. ALL LIES. There is no way that Jim Carrey is 50…
But supposing that were true… I’d say that’s a pretty conclusive list. I would say that I have never liked The Mask or Ace Ventura (blasphemy to the church of Jim), and that I would replace them with Liar Liar and The Grinch. For me Carrey is at his best when he shows off his skill and versatility as an actor. The following list, I think, shows him at his very best.
My list would be:
5. The Grinch
4.The Cable Guy
3. Liar Liar
2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
1. The Truman Show.