The Mask Review
by Craig P Steffen (csteffen AT gac DOT edu)September 26th, 1994
THE MASK
A film review by Craig P. Steffen
Copyright 1994 Craig P. Steffen
When going to see this movie, I was honestly expecting some bad brain candy at the very best, judging by ACE VENTURA. The feeling I had after leaving the theater was "Wow, that was really good!"
Jim Carrey stars in this quasi-thirties-super-hero story where the jokes are almost all actually funny, rather that so disgusting as to make the audience titter a bit. Stanley Lipkiss, Carrey's character, is very much the mild-mannered, Clark-Kent image as a bank clerk. After donning the Mask one night, however, it's powers allow him to become what he sees himself as in his fantasies. Snappy cinematography and superbly blended computer animation make his alter ego someone with the powers of Beetlejuice and the wardrobe sense of BATMAN's Joker. Between Carrey and his two love interests, there is enough real acting (surprisingly enough) to add a bit of human touch so we don't feel like we're watching a cartoon. Lastly, in his forays as the pastel crusader, Carrey will keep all movie buffs in the audience hopping with his rapid-fire quotes from all over the spectrum, both old and new. There is just a dash of the classical cheesy musical, which the loudly costumed mask is able to play to a tea.
Carrey delivers a performance that will surprise those who have seem him on TV or in other movies. Lipkiss appeals to everyone in the audience who has ever not quite fit in with their peers. The two leading ladies' [don't know actor's names] performances add some humanity to the story, but otherwise aren't that impressive. The villains are just that, the scum of the earth, very one-dimensional, and good a being so. The only other performance worth expounding on is Lipkiss's dog; he gives a performance that would leave Lassie in the dust, and furthermore, takes you completely by surprise several times.
A good movie to see once for fun in the theaters, it's selling power will be for video.
On scales of 1-10, 10 being the most:
violence: 2
quantity of "Gee-wiz' effects: 7 ; quality of effects: 9 dramatic intent: 5 ; effectiveness: 7
comedic intent: 7 ; effectiveness 9
good science fiction: 5
amount of suspense: 4
amount of intended 'message': 4
unpredictability: 9
OVERALL QUALITY: 6.5
Craig Steffen
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
