The Kokomo Post Rewinds: Jim Carrey movies
Nostalgia can be a heck of a thing, but do the movies we loved as kids really hold up? Is “Space Jam” really my favorite movie, or have I just not watched it since I was 10? In The Kokomo Post Rewinds, we will check out movies and shows from decades past and see if they hold up to today’s scrutiny. This week’s theme: Jim Carrey movies!
This scene is still hilarious though.
“Dumb and Dumber”
I loved this movie as a kid, and I’m sure my parents hated how much I loved it. I quoted it endlessly, everything from “so you’re saying there’s a chance!” to “Wanna hear the most annoying sound in the world?” Seeing grown-ups be so completely wacky always touched a special place in my heart. I never watched the sequel (or the prequel), because I thought they were playing with fire by messing with a perfect movie. You shouldn’t fix something that isn’t broken, and Harry and Lloyd didn’t need any more movies. I especially loved the scene where Harry clogs the bathroom toilet while, in theory, on a date. That stuck with me as a kid, just laughing at that horrible feeling.
The Verdict: I think they might not have needed this one either. The guys are dumb, to be sure. But they’re also just awful people, which takes away from some of the whimsy of how stupid they’re supposed to be. Make no mistake, these boys are dumb. But they’re also selfish, manipulative, and cruel. Their antics are still funny, but definitely less so than when I was 9 years old. I might have just grown up too much to still enjoy this one.
RATING: 2 Ecto Coolers out of 5. This isn’t a bad movie, but I think I just aged past it. You can check out a highlight reel from the movie here, but there’s really no need to rewatch the entire movie once you’re a little older than 11.
I like to think this is how Jim would thank me for this review.
“The Mask”
Another movie I absolutely adored. I did Jim Carrey impressions at my fifth-grade talent show, and most of them were from this movie. This was the first time I really became a big fan of Jim Carrey, and I remember it making Cameron Diaz into a household name. This movie is endlessly quotable, and I remember loving the cartoonish violence and the music. Plus, while I could never pull off that snazzy yellow suit, Jim certainly rocked it. And all it took was lime green face paint.
The Verdict: This movie still holds up! I forgot how much actual violence there was in addition to the cartoon violence, so maybe don’t let your particularly young kids see this movie. But once they hit about 12 or 13, there’s really nothing in there that they haven’t already seen elsewhere. I really enjoyed the frantic pace of this movie, and the musical numbers were excellent. Rewatching this one was definitely a win.
RATING: 4 Ross and Rachel breakups out of 5. This movie isn’t breaking any new ground anymore, but Jim Carrey’s amazingly emotive face and crazy voices take it to some very fun places. Then there’s the sequel, consistently ranked one of the worst movies ever made. Hooray for Jamie Kennedy’s second appearance in this blog despite not being in any movies I reviewed!
“The Truman Show”
I loved this movie from moment one. It showed that Jim could be funny without that same frantic pace he was known for. He could do subtle, he could play with emotional range. I remember everyone in this movie doing an amazing job, and I remember being convinced for a few days that I was also living in a world controlled by TV producers. The acting, the writing, all of it was so great that it stayed with me as one of my favorite movies of all time.
The Verdict: This one was cheating a little bit, because I rewatch it about once a year. I absolutely adore this movie, and nothing has happened to change my mind about it. Watching Truman go from darling everyman of his town to slowly losing his mind as he realizes the world around him isn’t what it seems was incredible. I’d love to see a series of shorts talking about the ethical dilemmas at play, because it’s present throughout the movie but doesn’t really get touched on. This is an amazing movie, and if you haven’t seen it already, you need to watch it.
RATING: 5 Spice Girls out of 5. This movie couldn’t be better, and I can’t sing its praises enough. It’s also included with Amazon Prime, so you’d better get to it!
