Liar Liar (1997)

A fast track lawyer can't lie for 24 hours due to his son's birthday wish after the lawyer turns his son down for the last time.

Director:

Tom Shadyac

Writers:

Paul Guay, Stephen Mazur

Stars:

Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney, Justin Cooper

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jim Carrey	...	Fletcher Reede
Maura Tierney	...	Audrey Reede
Justin Cooper	...	Max Reede
Cary Elwes	...	Jerry
Anne Haney	...	Greta
Jennifer Tilly	...	Samantha Cole
Amanda Donohoe	...	Miranda
Jason Bernard	...	Judge Marshall Stevens
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Dana Appleton
Mitch Ryan	...	Mr. Allan (as Mitchell Ryan)
Christopher Mayer	...	Kenneth Falk (as Chip Mayer)
Eric Pierpoint	...	Richard Cole
Randall 'Tex' Cobb	...	Skull
Cheri Oteri	...	Jane
SW Fisher	...	Pete

Storyline

Fletcher Reede, a fast talking attorney, habitual liar, and divorced father is an incredibly successful lawyer who has built his career by lying. He has a habit of giving precedence to his job and always breaking promises to be with his favorite young son Max, but Fletcher lets Max down once too often, for missing his own son's birthday party. But until then at 8:15 Max has decided to make an honest man out of him as he wishes for one whole day his dad couldn't tell a lie. When the wish comes true all Fletcher can do is tell the truth and cannot tell one lie. Uh-oh for Fletcher!

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Plot Keywords:

wish | lie | lying | birthday | lawyer | 

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Taglines:

Would I lie to you?

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sex related humor and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 March 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Menteur menteur

Filming Locations:

1004 Highland Street, South Pasadena, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$45,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

ITL 3,379,561,000 (Italy) (2 May 1997)

Gross:

$181,395,380 (USA) (10 October 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo DTS Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to an interview with Jim Carrey, he says that the gag of Fletcher chasing his son as "The Claw" was something Carrey's father did to him and his siblings.

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Goofs

In court, during dialog between Fletcher and Samantha.

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Quotes

Fletcher: [while hearing Mrs. Cole having sex on an audio cassette]
Fletcher: Oh, come on! Your honor, how can it be proved that the male voice on that tape is not Mr. Cole himself?
Samantha: [voice on tape] You are such a better lover than my husband!
Fletcher: Your honor, I object!
Judge Stevens: And why is that, Mr. Reede?
Fletcher: It's devastating to my case!
Judge Stevens: Overruled.
Fletcher: Good call!

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Crazy Credits

Outtakes are shown during the credits.

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Connections

Referenced in Frasier: Liar! Liar! (1997)

User Reviews

Honestly, this isn't that bad - 79%

Do you know what the first movie I ever bought on video with my money was, when I was about 13? It was "The Mask", that most animated of superheroes played to perfection by Jim Carrey. Indeed, it is nigh-on impossible to imagine anyone else playing the part. Carrey's combination of manic behaviour and superior face-pulling was seen as a highly successful money-spinner in the Nineties, culminating in "Liar Liar". At least, until "Me, Myself And Irene".

"Liar Liar" has such a simple premise that it is difficult to believe it hasn't been done before. Carrey plays Fletcher, your typical sleazeball lawyer who spins so many lies that he constantly lets down his son and his mother (ER's Maura Tierney). When his son wishes his father couldn't tell a lie for a single day as he blows out his birthday cake candles, Fletcher is forced to tell nothing but the truth during an important case. Essentially, the movie is a tailor-made vehicle for Carrey as he thrashes about the movie like a fish out of water and gurns as though his life depended on it.

How much enjoyment you'll get from this comedy depends on how much you like Carrey in maniac-mode. He is the picture, dominating every scene he's in. It can get a bit too much at times and you do sometimes wish he'd just shut up for a minute or stops throwing his body about like a puppet without strings. But when he's not there, the movie sags badly and when he returns, he lights the screen up again until you get bored of the routine. When he's on form, Carrey is a master of slapstick and "Liar Liar" provides plenty of opportunity for comic set-pieces. The premise is explored to the full with every opportunity for a gag taken. Not all of them hit the mark but a good ratio do tickle the funny bone.

The other problem, besides Carrey chomping through the screen, is the sugary feel to the thing. If some of the humour were toned down (such as Carrey passing judgment on sleeping with Amanda Donohoe - something I'd like to do, quite frankly) then you'd get the impression that this would be a kiddie's film. To be honest, the only other actor who appears to be trying is Justin Cooper (Max, Carrey's son) and he has a horrible haircut in this, poor blighter. But like I said, this is Carrey's film as most of his back catalogue are. Even when he's in serious actor-mode like "The Truman Show" or "Man On The Moon", the movie seems to revolve around him. Like or loathe him, I can think of few other actors that can hold an audience's attention better than Carrey.

"Liar Liar" is a perfectly good comedy with feel-good moments in the right places and a rubber-faced star in the centre of all the action. Yes, it does feel glossy and engineered to do all the right things at the right time. It does very little to take comedy forward, besides tell an entertaining and original story. And yes, Carrey is screaming in your face as much as possible. But don't let that put you off - I still enjoyed "Liar Liar" at the second time of watching so it must do something right. Except The Claw, which is just wrong...