ViewGuide

Created Apr 08, 2009 08:18AM PST • Edited May 06, 2015 12:40PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   Genial? Yes. Less than funny? Yes. Proof that Jim Carrey comedies are no longer sure-fire laughers? Yes again.

   While Liar Liar was no masterpiece, this positive echo of that funny movie misses the mark. Yes, that’s the truth.

4. Acting

   OK 2.5

   Carrey remains the preeminent mugger of our time. The guy gets more mileage out of a rubbery face than a circus Prius full of clowns. Too bad he’s not confident enough to surround himself with a strong supporting cast of other comic actors. Rhys Darby is the only other noticeably comic actor in the movie. And he’s not funny. Ridiculous, yes. Funny, no.

   The rest of the cast are a bunch of attractive straightmen (and women). In comparison, consider the raft of funny players in a successful comedy like I Love You, Man.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars Barely OK 2.0

7. Female Costars Barely OK 2.0

8. Male Costars Pretty Bad 1.5

10. Film

    OK 2.5

    In a rich bit of irony, this slickly produced failure seems to spring from Hollywood’s yes man culture. The movie looks great and serves as a platform for a bona fide moviestar in Jim Carrey, but fails to deliver the laughs, probably because Carrey is nearly all alone in conjuring them. Plus the presence of three writers is sure to suck the life out of most any comedy script.

11. Direction Good 3.0

12. Play Pretty Bad 1.5

13. Music Very Good 3.5

14. Visuals Good 3.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.4

17. Sex Titillating 2.0

    A randy old lady has a particularly oral method of thanking the young men who come to her assistance, so to speak.

18. Violence Gentle 1.0

19. Rudeness Polite 1.3

21. Reality

    Glib 1.2

    The movie amiably spoofs New Age-like self-aggrandizing shamans. However it doesn’t take as strong a tack on this as it could have to be truly funny.

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.6

23. Biological Glib 1.6

24. Physical Natural 1.0