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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Paul Guay (written by) &
Stephen Mazur (written by)
Release Date:
21 March 1997 (USA) more
Tagline:
Trust Me more
Plot:
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. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(52 articles)
Weekly Poll Results: Favourite Jim Carrey Movie
(From FilmJunk. 12 November 2009, 9:44 AM, PST)
Film School 101: Protagonists
(From Atomic Popcorn. 1 November 2009, 4:57 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Better than "Honest"... more (207 total)
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 |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for sex related humor and language.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
86 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:L | Canada:14A (Ontario) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #35145) | USA:TV-PG (cut version) | Philippines:PG-13 | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Canada:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Germany:6 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:7 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12 (DVD rating) | Spain:7 | Sweden:7 | UK:12 | Singapore:PG | Brazil:Livre
Filming Locations:
City Hall - 200 N. Spring Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA more
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
When Fletcher literally beats himself up in the restroom, no sound effects were used; those are really the sounds of Jim Carrey's head slamming into the urinal, floor and walls. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Fletcher tore his blazer on his left shoulder, his hand went forward, but the rip went backwards. Later outside and back to court, his shoulder pad was out. When he ripped it in the bathroom, it was a small rip and not a big rip. more
Quotes:
[after sex]
Miranda:
Ummm that was incredible. Was it good for you?
Fletcher:
I've had better.
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (207 total)
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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...