My Top 5 Jim Carrey Movies

In my opinion, Jim Carrey is one of the finest actors of our time. Between the 90's and 00's, Carrey starred in many iconic films and gave some very memorable performances. He may be well known for his comedic skills, ranging from straight-forward funnyman to zany maniac, but he's also been praised for his serious roles in drama films. When I think about it, there aren't many movies I can think of where Carrey isn't entertaining in some variety. Growing up on his films, some of them stand out to me more than others. So I wanted to take some time to talk about my top five Jim Carrey movies, and my choices may be surprising.

5. YES MAN (2008)

Since this isn't a well known Carrey film, I'll explain the plot. Carrey plays bank loan officer Carl Allen, who is having a rough time following his divorce, leading to him ignoring his friends and just having a dim outlook on life. After being suggested that he attend a motivational seminar, Carl follows the speaker's advice to say "yes" to any opportunity that presents itself. This leads to a chain of events that not only helps improve Carl's life but those around him.
This is a more down-to-earth comedy for Carrey. He's not as zany as when he was younger, but he still has that Carrey charm when it comes to the comedy. Carrey is also supported by a well rounded cast who work naturally off each other, including Bradley Cooper and Danny Masterson. Zooey Deschanel plays Allison, Carl's new love interest, and I love the quirky chemistry her and Carrey share.
What also stands out to me in this film is the music, specifically two selections. The first is "Separate Ways" by Journey. The song is epic in its own right, but its meanings and use at the beginning and end of the film greatly show Carl's progress. It's featured as Carl's ringtone when he's at the video store and he's called by Pete (Bradley Cooper). At this point, Carl is depressed due to his divorce, and that works with the song's break-up meaning. By the end of the film, the song is played again as Carl is driving a Ducati motorcycle he borrowed from a friend to get to Allison across town. This time it plays on the song's more triumphant themes of love, corresponding to Carl's new positive outlook and his feelings for Allison.
The other song is "Jumper" by Third Eye Blind, though in this case, it's Carl putting his new guitar lessons to use by playing the song trying to talk down a man threatening to kill himself.

The first time I saw this movie was early 2012, and I'll be honest, I was feeling really down on myself at the time. I think Carrey's performance and the meaning of the song being played out gave me a new appreciation for "Jumper". I was in no way suicidal, but I had this feeling of being unwanted, and it was a deep cut. I think "Jumper" and "Yes Man" helped me out a lot during that time.
Basically, it's more of a personal connection that makes "Yes Man" one of my favorite Jim Carrey movies. Its message is one I needed when I first saw it: a little positivity goes a long way. Plus, it's a funny movie in its own right, and if you haven't seen it, I really recommend it.

4. BATMAN FOREVER (1995)

This is definitely an unpopular opinion, but "Batman Forever" is my favorite of the original Batman movie series. I know fully well it has some problems, the biggest probably being the contrasting tones, with the film being stuck between the dark aesthetic of the prior Tim Burton films and before director Joel Schumacher went full neon camp in "Batman & Robin". That being said, I feel there is a balance that brings a lot of cool shots, with the lighting actually helping accent the darker colors. Considering "Batman: The Animated Series" was airing at the time, I think "Forever" matched the tone in some way with a mix of serious and fun. There's also a lot of cool designs, from the Batcave, vehicles, villain lairs, and costumes (batnipples notwithstanding). Plus, it actually gave more focus to Bruce (the main character I remind you) than the other films in the series.

So admittedly, Jim Carrey as the Riddler isn't the main reason I like this movie. But this is still a Jim Carrey movie and the film has a place in my heart, so that's why it makes the list. That said, Jim Carrey is pretty entertaining in the film and is a major part of what makes it fun. He brings his standard zany schtick, but considering the high energy Frank Gorshin brought to the role in the 60's TV series, I'd like to think Carrey was inspired by that. One person who definitely didn't like Carrey was Tommy Lee Jones, who played Two-Face in the film. He flat out told Carrey he hated him while also trying to match Carrey's energy in his own performance. I feel like that's the impact Jim Carrey can have; Jones didn't like him yet was so threatened by him that he tried to be like him. Admittedly, it probably would have been better if Jones played the more serious villain by comparison, but that's what happens when ego goes unabated.
Whether you liked Carrey's performance or not, it was definitely a memorable one.

3. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (2004)

I'd dare say that this is one of the best movies ever made due to its emotional resonance and cinematography.

Jim Carrey plays Joel, a soft spoken man who decides to have a procedure to erase his memories of his free spirited girlfriend Clementine (played by Kate Winslet) after learning she had done the same over him. Joel finds himself in a dream state reliving his relationship in reverse, but remembering the good moments of their time together leads Joel to regret his decision and attempt to keep some sliver of Clementine alive in his mind.

I first saw this about ten years ago for a film study class back in college; it moved me to tears then, and it still does whenever I decide to rewatch it. Carrey and Winslet bring this immediate connection as Joel and Clementine and there's so much emotion in their performances. You become invested in them from their budding beginnings to their slow burn of a break-up, with all the fun and heartfelt moments they shared in between.

What also makes this film stand out is how it depicts memories and dreams within the mind. It's not as clean cut as other stories make it out to be. This film shows memories blending in and mixing together as Joel's lucidity allows him to try and manipulate the situation he's in, allowing for surreal moments as well. There's also the degradation of memories, which is shown through both blatant and subtle ways. In both aspects, they are done very well with the set designs and the mix of practical and computer effects. Even the music has this distortion to it, working well with the dreamscape and the fading of memories.

The film has a big twist moment that I won't spoil here if you haven't seen it, but the observant may pick up on it right away while others may catch the hints the next time around. I also feel the film leaves things open-ended, and that what the viewer thinks happens next depends on whether they want to look at the situation logically or hopefully. In that regard, I'd like to believe in a happy ending.

2. THE MASK (1994)

Sometimes I feel lucky that I grew up with Cartoon Network in the 90's. Not only did it have much more variety than it does now, but it gave kids a chance to experience and appreciate the classic cartoons their parents grew up on, including the Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera catalogs. And it was the slapstick comedy of those cartoons, particularly the works of Tex Avery, that helped inspire one of the most iconic movies of all time, "The Mask."

Jim Carrey plays Stanley Ipkiss, a bank clerk that comes across a magical mask that when donned suppresses the wearer's inhibitions and allows them to act on their impulsive desires in a chaotic way that can defy logic. In Stanley's case, his behavior as the Mask is like a wacky cartoon character in the vain of Bugs Bunny or Woody Woodpecker. While his initial use of the mask plays on his more selfish desires, his altruistic side shines through at the end.

Jim Carrey plays both sides of his character very well. Stanley is relatable as the lovable loser, whereas the Mask is funny as hell and totally quotable. He also gives two memorable music performances, with the night club dance scene to "Hey! Pachuco!" that had amazing choreography and a police stand-off where he's able to escape by performing "Cuban Pete" and getting the whole police force to sing and dance with him.

Carrey's not alone in what makes this movie great. We had Stanley's love interest Tina, played by Cameron Diaz in first ever film role; it was a hell of a debut for her as a character who was likable in her own right and wasn't just there for eye candy. There was also Stanley's dog, Milo; it's not only adorable watching Carrey act with him, but Milo also plays a significant role in the film's third act. Then you have police detectives Kellaway and Doyle, total opposites that have hilarious interactions with each other throughout the film; I tell you, I may have watched a movie that focused on these two if given the chance.

Much like the classic cartoons that it homaged, I feel there's a mostly timeless quality to "The Mask." Not only does it really feel like its own world, but it doesn't have any dated references. Even the CGI holds up pretty well over fifteen years later. I think this has to do with the cartoony nature of the Mask; you know it looks silly because it's supposed to be.

Overall, "The Mask" is a trifecta: a good Jim Carrey movie, a good comedy, and a good superhero film. On one hand, it's a shame we never got a direct sequel, but I think it just means we can appreciate the one film even more.

Before we get to number one, here are a couple honorable mentions:

* Liar Liar (1997): As a lawyer "cursed" with being unable to lie for 24 hours, Carrey is a laugh riot both verbally and physically in a performance that in the real world probably would have gotten him committed. In addition, Carrey's character goes through some decent development by the end and the bloopers at the beginning of the credits are just as funny as the rest of the movie.

* Bruce Almighty (2003): A unique premise for a comedy, Jim Carrey with the powers of God offers for some creative visual gags in addition to his own wacky personality. As Bruce learns the pressures and responsibility of being omnipotent, it leads to what I feel is a heartfelt and inspirational conclusion. Besides that, I enjoy Carrey and Jennifer Aniston's relationship and Morgan Freeman as God is just perfect. 

And my favorite Jim Carrey movie of all time is...

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000)

By extension, this is also my all time favorite Christmas movie. I make a point to watch this every year around the season, specifically the extended edition that airs on Freeform. From what I can tell, said edition never had a home release and I prefer to watch this since it gives extra laughs and more reasoning for Cindy's investigation about the Grinch.

Compared to other Christmas movies, I feel this has a timeless quality, like it really does exist in its own little world. I love the set designs and the make-up, especially the Grinch's look. Seriously, when I saw the first trailer as a kid, Carrey's look as the Grinch scared the crap out of me to the point where I could hardly look at the poster for the longest time. Considering the Grinch is supposed to be a scary guy, I think the desired reaction was achieved. Since the cartoon version with Boris Karloff was a big part of my childhood, I find it easy to see this film as an expanded version of the story (especially compared to the recent "Cumber-Grinch" version). Come to think of it, I feel this is probably the best Dr. Seuss movie adaptation as well; "Horton Hears a Who" is a close second, which coincidentally also starred Jim Carrey.

Speaking of, what would this movie be without Carrey as the mean one himself? Through the heavy make-up and suit, Carrey brings his trademark wit both verbally and physically to the role, resulting in a lot of quotable moments. The scariness of the Grinch is already on deck, but Carrey is also able to have a funny side show through even the character's cynical moments. Hell, as I get older, I've found the character can actually be relatable to adults at least when it comes to his home life. Plus, Carrey also puts his own spin on the classic "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" song.

Between the original cartoon and the live action adaptation, whichever version you prefer, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is a classic. In the latter's case, it's hard to imagine anyone else but Jim Carrey covered in all that green fur.