The Majestic (2001) User Reviews

Jim Carrey in a Capra-esque film

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 19 February 2011]

I admit I only saw this film recently, many years after its release. Unlike some early reviewers, I wasn't surprised that Jim Carrey could do a dramatic role, as I'd seen a very early film of his, "Doin' Time on Maple Drive," as well as "The Truman Show" and "Man in the Moon." This film is directed by Frank Darabont, who has directed two wonderful films I've seen - The Green Mile and Shawshank Redemption. Here he channels Frank Capra for a feel-good film that takes place in the 1950s. A blacklisted writer, Peter Appleton, gets drunk, has an accident, and washes up on the beach of a town called Lawson. And he can't remember a thing about who he is. In Lawson, he is mistaken for a World War II soldier believed dead, Luke Trimble, to whom he bears a resemblance. Luke's grief-stricken father Harry (Martin Landau), having not seen his son for some years, accepts Peter as Luke, and Peter believes that's his identity.

The town is excited that Luke is back, and Harry decides to bring back his movie theater, the Majestic, to its former glory with Luke's help. Luke becomes involved with the town and its people; and Luke's old girlfriend Adele (Laurie Holden) is back on the scene. Little does Peter know, but the FBI is looking for him. One of his old films jogs his memory, and Peter realizes that he's not Luke after all. And he's wanted in Los Angeles to testify about whether or not he's a Communist.

This is a beautifully done film, released three months after 9/1/2001 and very relevant when seen today. It's about standing up for what you believe in, the power of love, and what's really important in life. Jim Carrey is marvelous as an ambitious young man who finds his heart in Lawson; Martin Landau gives a magnificent performance as Harry, a man who finds a new lease on life.

The Majestic stands as a symbol of a time when we walked into glamorous theaters to attend movies; when we sat wide-eyed in the dark; when films were more of a family affair; when life was more high touch than high tech; and when a person's principles and integrity were more important than anything else. It's good to be reminded of all of that once in a while.

Feel good

[rbverhoef · 8/10 · 8 February 2003]

This is a nice film. A movie that will make you laugh. I smiled most of the movie, and may be that was too long (146 minutes), I enjoyed it all. The story (a man with amnesia is seen as a long lost son in a small town) is not that special, but it has some nice things to avoid the bigger cliches. Jim Carrey is great as he was in The Truman Show. The movie is very well made, and in the end you will have a nice feeling about it.

The serious side of Carrey

[helpless_dancer · 8/10 · 4 January 2004]

I often wondered how Carrey would handle a drama and now I know. Totally enjoyed this trip through nostalgiatown as Carrey rejuvenated a town with his infectious personality. Heavily dramatic at times but always with an undercurrent of jollity running through it. I especially appreciated Carrey's dead on comments in the military graveyard.

A throwback film in the Frank Capra style

[royjaruk · 18 July 2004]

That comment sums up the movie. If you happen to like Capra-esquire movies, you will adore The Majestic. If you think they are silly, sentimental and simplistic, you won't. It's just that simple.

The movie plot runs on two levels. Jim Carrey, playing straight, is Peter Appleton, a B-movie screenwriter in 1951 Hollywood who is trying to break into A-pictures when he is accused of being a Communist by the House Un-American Activities Committee. As the witch hunt begins to unfold, he has a traffic accident that ends with him and his car falling into a river. He is carried out to sea only to be washed up on the beach below Lawson, California - with no memory of who he is, his past life, or how he got there.

He is promptly mistaken for Luke Trimble, a local hero missing and presumed dead by the entire town, who like 62 other Lawson boys gave his life for his country in World War II. Lawson's sacrifice was recognized by President Roosevelt declaring the town a national monument and sending a bronze sculpture to commemorate its dead. However, the town's losses have caused Lawson to lose its heart and its way.

The reappearance of 'Luke,' and Peter's actions taken in another man's shoes, revitalize the town beginning with Luke's father, Harry (Martin Landau, in a great role) and The Majestic, the theatre owned by the Trimbles, which Harry had closed in 1942 presumably on learning of Luke's death. While Adele, the doctor's daughter (and Luke's fiancée) tries to restore 'Luke's' memory, Peter and Harry refurbish and reopen The Majestic, and bring life back to the town. All is going well in 'Luke's' life... until the investigators for the HUAC show up with a subpoena a couple of days after Harry's death - on the day of Harry's funeral, in fact - and coincidentally after Peter's regaining his memory.

Peter's agent also shows up. He has news. It has occurred to the HUAC that in Peter's case, perhaps they are mistaken; but they have to save face. All Peter, a man who has never had much in the way of personal convictions, has to do is stand up at an HUAC hearing in Los Angeles and read a prepared statement in which he abjures his membership in the Communist Party, apologizes for his error, promises to mend his ways and name names, and all will be forgiven. He'll get his life back. His A-list film, which the studio shelved, will go back into production. He'll get everything he ever wanted.

But Peter has a problem. It's Luke, you see. He was not just a local hero. He was a Hero with a capital H, and Peter has been him for a few months, as Adele points out to him; and when Luke reaches out from the past to touch Peter, Peter is ready to listen.

If you are a Capra fan, you can guess the ending and will approve. If you aren't, you'll say this is a mixture of schmaltz and hokum with just a dash of idealism and SO not realistic. And if you say that, I say you're wrong.

Capra could have made this picture, with Jimmy Stewart as Peter/Luke, June Allyson as Adele, Edward Arnold as the head of the HUAC, and a whole bunch of MGM's "old reliable" character actors in the supporting roles. The movie is a throwback to a more innocent time when people still believed in heroes and dared to dream about more than just maintaining the status quo. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it an 8; and I wish Carrey would make more movies like this. He's a better straight actor than he is given credit for. This is one of the movies you can tell will stand the test of time, and as such you should add it to your collection and your list to the 200 Greatest American Movies.

old fashioned Kapra-Korn, well-done

[stephenksmith · 6/10 · 6 August 2002]

Jim Carey is a man who literally re-defines himself in the mold of the small-town hero. A recently black-listed Hollywood screenwriter, Carey, is leaving Tinseltown on a feel-sorry-for-yourself drunk drive and winds up washed up (literally and figuratively) on a beach having suffered amnesia. He's taken to a picturesque coastal California town and is mistaken (or is he?) for one of their boys lost in WWII. And what a boy he was--handsome, caring, talented... and engaged to the local Drs. daughter. Carey's character is confused and taken in by the love given by this town for their supposed returning war hero. But is he that man? Will he marry the girl "he" left behind? Will the commie chasers from J. Edgar Hooverland find him and make him face the music? Who is he, really! This is a throw back to the Kapra-Korn of earlier years. This is a movie that unabashedly creates a small town America that never was so polished and gleaming. But despite the cornball-ity of the whole thing, the sincerity of Mr. Carey's acting along with a fine ensemble cast pulls it off. It successfully explores the questions of just who are we, as inviduals and as a society? Can we measure up to the ideals that we hold for ourselves and for our nation? When is expediency--discretion, the better part of valor? Is there a nobility in self-sacrifice and in the angels of our naive and better natures? I like movies (and books and things) that ask questions and explore territory that is often neglected in this fast-cut, MTV film't age. Sure it's corny. More than a bit unrealistic, but the sincerity of script and cast pulls it off. What is the greatest generation? Any one where enough of us face the music... and dance.

The Majestic is a fabulous, warm, feel good, family movie.

[redfearnb · 7/10 · 15 March 2006]

This movie is a great early departure for Carrey. Getting away from his characteristic "funny-man" mystique, Carrey pulls off his dramatic very well, I think. Set in the 1950's days during the Marxist witch hunt in Hollywood, Carrey ends up in a small town where the locals think him to be a returned war hero, although he has no idea where he has come from because of a trauma wound to his head. Donned "Luke" by the locals, he goes through the motions, trying to remember his life and reclaim his position in the community. Luke struggles as he helps to rebuild the local theater named "The Majestic" which boosts the spirit of the town. Luke later begins to remember who he really is and struggles with how to break the truth to the small town, especially the girl that he has learned to love.

The Majestic is a wonderful family movie for the whole family. Dealing with the loss and regain of life, love, and happiness, The Majestic is a movie about never losing hope and what a community can accomplish when they come together. What one man loses, he regains, while what one man regains, he later loses as well. There are some wonderful role reversals of several characters throughout the film. I really enjoyed how the town was so eager to turn against Luke as he was implicated by the incoming FBI agents, which is so characteristic of human nature. The politics of this historic event (blacklisted Marxists in Hollywood) in our past are clearly depicted. Especially as the newly self-identified "Peter Appleton" rises to the occasion and stands for what is right as he puts down his false-accusers. As the end of the movie comes full-circle, the viewer is left pondering on many of our current social issues. "When bullies rise up, the rest of us have to beat them back down, whatever the cost" says Luke, in a love letter to his girlfriend. The Majestic is a beautiful movie that I would recommend to anyone.

6.6/10? What absolute bull. Don't believe the low rating.

[ninjagaiden007 · 10/10 · 28 March 2007]

I heard bad things about this movie. I heard it wasn't well written and that Jim Carrey was a bad actor in it etc. DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT! It's not true. This movie is absolutely amazing. Jim Carrey did an excellent job at acting serious. He was 100% serious in this movie. He didn't try any facial expressions or noises he was 100% serious. He did an unforgettable role. He's even more serious than The Truman Show. The story is well put together and well written. Carrey losing his memory after a car crash in the river. The town people think he's someone that went to war and who has come back. Carrey must try to remember who he is. The people they know who he is are looking for him and will cause a lot of trouble if he doesn't find out quick. Fantastic, sweet and dramatic story. I recommend it to anyone. It is to be enjoyed by anyone. 10/10

One Of Jim's Best Movie

[Mr_Sensitive · 7/10 · 13 February 2005]

With a very slow-paced and a lengthy, this movie will simply not be enjoying by everyone, but to me this is - Very Good Movie.

Set in 1950's, a screen writer Peter Appleton (Jim Carry) accused of being a communize and at the same time met with car accident which lead him no memory of himself before being mistaken as the long lost son of a man in the small town.

The story follows Jim and how he built relationship with the town (He now thought that he is Luke, a local soldier missing 9 years ago in the wars) and his dad and girlfriend to rebuilt The Majestic, the movie theater; while the police are trying to hunt him as thought he was communize fugitive.

This movie Jim makes it damn good and damn convincing as you have seen him in The Truman Show that you wouldn't see any comedy side of him in here. Overall the movie has a great storyline and great acting which make it worthwhile to watch.

Recommendation: YES! Watch It.

Rating: 7.5/10 (Grade: B)

A film-writer accused of being a communist loses his memory in an auto accident and ends up in a small town where he is thought to be a missing-in-action World War II hero.

[mdrebeck22 · 10/10 · 26 April 2006]

This is one of my favorite Jim Carey movies and I have watched it over and over. It really shows his versatility as an actor, not just a comic, and I loved the plot. An old fashioned movie with no bad language, sex or violence. It was extremely well cast and I really liked the old gentleman who lived in the basement of the theater and was so dignified. Every time I see him with his "Dog" I get a lump in my throat. Jim Carey plays such a caring role and his relationship with Harry is so warm and believable.The way he gets the town to rally around the Majestic is fun and wonderful. The woman who plays his lady-friend is beautiful and I wish I could see her in other movies. One of my favorite all time films.

Jim "Carreys" the day

[Rogue-32 · 7/10 · 29 May 2003]

I finally got to see this film tonight, long after its release, and as a big Jim Carrey fan, I was tremendously impressed with - and gratified by - his performance. I love him as a comic, there's no question he's a genius in that department, but I'm always pleased to see him do something 'real' - something where he displays genuine emotion, honest feeling, and in The Majestic, he does this brilliantly. Sure, the film is too long, too 'corny' in spots, blah blah blah, but ultimately the sheer force of Carrey's talent (and his deep commitment to the material) makes it work. Kudos as well to the great Martin Landau, who turns in yet another rich performance, giving his scenes with Carrey true poignancy.

The Phoney -historical revisionism and cynical manipulation.

[rimsey-2 · 1/10 · 19 January 2003]

This movie is an example of historical revisionism at its worst. It has Jim Carrey, who has moved from being offensively irritating as Ace Ventura to being equally irritating in his good ol' boy straight roles, playing the innocent victim of a HUAC witch hunt at the height of the McCarthyite hysteria in the US. Lacking the courage of its convictions (and undoubtedly with an eye to increased box office sales) Carrey's character is shown to have been unfairly harassed because instead of being a communist he was simply a 'horny young man' following a lustful trail to a meeting at which he was unaware of the political content. Even today it seems that we can't have a hero in an American movie who is shown to have had any hint of a communist link in their past. The inhabitants of the town of Lawson where Carrey finds himself after his accident are all the sorts of wonderful people that we are supposed to believe are the real spirit of America. Supporters of the constitution one and all. Defenders of liberty and free speech. Funnily enough they seem to have been rather short on the ground during the McCarthy era and this is at the heart of the historical revisionism that I find most offensive in this movie. For me the biggest joke though (and presumably unintentional) are the scenes where Carrey as the scriptwriter has to endure meetings where his scripts are radically altered by greedy studio executives to make them more marketable. "There won't be dry eye in the house" says one of them after suggesting a cynically saccharine manipulation of one of the scripts. The irony of all this is that the script for this movie seems to have been written by just such a committee.

Jim Carrey can play any role he wants!!!!

[nomatterhowminor · 10/10 · 5 October 2004]

By the end of this movie you will love the movies, love America, and love Jim Carrey. Every other movie staring Jim Carrey, no matter how serious, you could still see a little bit of Ace Ventura coming out. In this movie, it is a COMPLETE 180 degree performance. There were no outrageous facial expressions, gestures or body movements. It was just him, and he's awesome!

The story was good too, of course. Peter Appleton (Jim) is a movie writer during the time of the communist witch-hunt and he gets black-listed, loses his memory and winds-up in this town in which he looks like a guy that was lost in the war. He adopts this life because he doesn't know any better and he falls in love there. When he realizes who he is and is called to testify on his own behalf, he realizes that he needs to stand up against the committee because, "if a bully rises up, it's up to us all to beat them back down, no matter the cost."

Sentimental bull - yep, enjoyable non the less - you bet!

[Lovenelli · 7/10 · 26 April 2021]

This movie kinda reminds me why we should cherish this format. Made by an awesome director, with his regular stalwarts, with little to no agenda. It's absolutely magical tbh.

Tastes Like Saccharine

[whitezombi · 2/10 · 25 April 2005]

I can see why this movie appeals to so many people. It is an all-American feel-good movie with a simple message. The writers must have attended the Feel Good School of movies and then thrown in everything from their textbooks into the script.

The movie is set in small-town USA during the 1950s. It inhabitants are all kind, good natured, hard working, community driven people. There is not a single person in this town who is capable of a bad thought. Luke's fiancée Adele is the sweet, pretty (blonde), smart and devoted girlfriend. Luke's father is a gentle old man filled with love for his son and his old movie theater. The mayor is a friendly, community oriented leader. Heck, even the concession stand lady is sweet and lovable. This is such an idyllic portrayal of a town that it comes across and completely unbelievable. This kind of town cannot possible exist on this Earth.

The key poignant moments such as the opening of the theater, Luke's father's death, Adele's talk with Luke at the cemetery and the speech at the HUAC hearing are so over-dramatic it makes you want to wretch. The dialogue is taken straight out of the Big Book of American Clichés is is absolutely cringe-worthy. The movie's themes of freedom of speech, heroism and hope are so simplistic that I felt insulted. A 5 year old could process more complex thoughts.

In addition, the freedom of speech theme comes completely out of nowhere and completely shifts the focus of the movie with 30 minutes to go. It seems like a last-minute add on, thrown in as an easy way to wrap the movie up. When confronting the HUAC in court, Jim Carey simply invokes the First Amendment, tells the committee to go stuff itself and then WALKS OUT of court to a standing ovation. What? Are you serious?! The scene was so ridiculous that I was practically on the floor laughing.

This movie is a complete waste of time for anyone who likes a movie that provokes thought, any thought, even just a little one. If you like to be spoon-fed feel-good Americana, then this is the perfect movie for you.

I liked it too although I'm not usually a Jim Carey fan

[mjtaylor_communications · 21 November 2004]

This DVD came in my last batch from Netflix, and I wondered why I had ever chosen it. Finally on a rainy Saturday, I put it on and was enchanted and moved. Jim Carey was great as were all the cast. The story seemed so very timely in light of recent national events. A land where dissenting voices are labeled unpatriotic and people of intellect and wide-ranging analysis are dismissed as elitist is positively frightening. "The Majestic" shows how we can get back to being our best selves and fulfill our promise as a nation that now seems so bleak to some of us. Caring about each other, our community, that is how we really come alive and make a difference. Building and striving for what is possible and making it safe to express and fulfill dreams gives me hope that we really can get back to where we belong if we'd only stop being so self-righteous, rude, and intolerant. I grew up in the party of Eisenhower but never felt that opposing ideas were unpatriotic. We need to be kinder to each other, recapture the courtesy of a lost era, be thoughtful and intellectually curious to be sure that we come up with the very best ideas and solutions we can in today's world. "The Majestic" is a wonderful reminder of what ordinary people can do when we come together and work to achieve something that uplifts a whole community. I heartily recommend it.

A real feel-good film!

[dav7nine · 6/10 · 19 January 2005]

I thought this film was pretty good. I hadn't ever heard of it before and when I looked at where Jim Carrey done it in his career, I was a bit surprised I hadn't heard of it.

It's a real feel-good movie and it's pretty much well-enjoyable if you just want an easy-osy film to watch. Jim Carrey's great in it... I like Liar, Liar and all that face-wrenching stuff, but this was a more realistic character he plays. It really makes you think about how it would be to lose your memory... he's thinking "It's not that I don't believe what you're saying to me... I just can't remember..." I was also really surprised by the supporting cast... I was recognising people left, right and centre and I also thought that 99% of the acting was really realistic with regard to reactions and facial expressions... none of it was over the top.

A good film... 6/10 Dave

Good but corny (as it should be)

[Quinoa1984 · 7/10 · 22 December 2001]

Frank Darabont, resposible for the masterpiece The Shawshank Redemption and the bittersweet Green Mile comes back with a non-Stephen King work called the Majestic, a Frank Capra like tale of mistaken identity, old towns, Mr. Smith goes to Washington smiliar scenes and other old fashioned things. Jim Carrey (he should stick to comedic acting by the way) plays Peter, a B film screenwriter in Hollywood who gets blacklisted and has to testify in front of congress. But before that happens, Peter accidentally crashes off a bridge and looses his memory, and ends up on the beach next to one of those old towns from the 50's. He is mistaken for a lost son from the second world war and the town is in cheers over it, including the owner of a old theater called the Majestic (Martin Landau) who decides to rebuild it with his supposed son's return.

An interesting film overall, with characters that we do care about and are played with some good charm and drama, plus a speech in front of congress that is pretty nice, but the film lacks the egde of Darabont's last efforts and has an ending that had me in some disgust actually. In other words, a fine film for old Capra or 50's films and for others as well, but fans or Carrey's old stuff like Ace Ventura and Dumb and Dumber should beware. That's Matt Damon's voice towards the end of the film as the voice of the real Luke. B

An underrated gem from Jim Carrey

[jamesjustice-92 · 10/10 · 22 December 2018]

I have to begin by saying I like Jim Carrey; not a superfan but not too critical too. His comedic roles are almost always brilliant (Mask, Liar Liar, Bruce Almighty are among my favorites) but he also established himself as a pretty good dramatic actor with The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. And it's really a mystery to me how could The Majestic be lost in between those great dramatic performances of his.

You could say this movie is too long, running at around 2,5 hours, but so what? Remember who is the director and everything will fall into place. Frank Darabont could not have made a simple story and no simple story lasts a minute. It wraps up every storyline, and every character grows out of his/her shell by the end of the movie. It is a touching, kind and I should say very "old hollywood" story (considering that the plot takes place in the 1950s), not in the way of telling a story but in the way of what is being shown to us. A man who reevaluates everything he has known before by living a life of another man and by doing so unintentionally changing himself into a better human being - that's the story I would want to see. And I would want you all go and see it.

"This is everybody's town"

[BrunoRatesTheMovies · 6/10 · 27 February 2022]

A classic mistaken identity brought on by amnesia after a car crash storyline with a "damn commies" political which-hunt undertones. I loved this movie purely because it has Jim Carrey in a not comedic role, and there is a classic movie element to it all. Much like my love for Cinema Paradiso. Fun fact, Matt Damon reads the letter from War in what has to be an homage to Saving Private Ryan.

Just perfect, should be rated 10:-)

[Pancho2504 · 10/10 · 4 September 2009]

Having seen the mediocre rating this film has garnered on here I began to watch it expecting nothing more than an average film and a forgettable way to spend a couple of hours on a Friday night, how wrong was I! What I ended up with was an absolute gem of a film, from the quietly emotional performance of Martin Landau to the very restrained yet brilliant portrayal offered by Jim Carrey, every actor was cast to perfection and as the film moves gently along it takes you on an ultimately uplifting journey. I would recommend this film to anyone who is bored of the constant stream of action blockbusters or who has never seen Jim Carrey do anything other than gurn his way through a film, if only more of his performances were laced with the kind of down to earth humanity he shows in this picture our perception of him as an actor would be quite different, my only complaint is that it took me 8 years to find this film but all good things come to those who wait I suppose:-) Do yourselves a favour, find a copy of this film, open a bottle of wine and sit back with someone you care about and just let it wash over you like a soft breeze on a summers day.

Predictable, boring, and poor screen writing go together to make this one of the worst.

[Bill-382 · 2/10 · 8 August 2002]

There is very little good to be said about this terrible effort. The scenes in Ferndale were nicely done, all the rest just smacked of over the top smarmy. Sound track had its moments, too, but don't waste your time. Even the writing was silly, immature, an embarrassment.

My favorite Jim Carrey movie

[mvc113 · 10/10 · 31 December 2010]

I never thought of Jim Carrey as a romantic actor, but I fell in love with him after seeing 'The Majestic,' I wish he would make more of this kind of movie. Laurie Holden was perfect as his love interest. I had not seen her before this, but enjoyed her later in 'Bailey's Billions' with Dean Cain. I do enjoy films with an historical background, and I think 'The Majestic' introduces a new generation to the Hollywood Blacklist and the army-McCarthy hearings, which were aired on live TV when they were happening. I used to come home from school and follow all the principals at the time. Most folks don't know that the late Robert Kennedy was one of the attorneys working with Senator Joe McCarthy before McCarthy went too far in his accusations. Another thing I loved about this movie was the background music. I would like to have a soundtrack of it. I own the DVD of this movie and suggest you watch this movie if you get a chance. If you like Jim Carrey playing nutty characters, you might be disappointed. However, if you would like to see a warm, romantic Jim Carrey, you will love 'The Majestic.'

Carrey can play basically anything.

[mat-mcnaughton-254-33257 · 7/10 · 28 October 2012]

I think Jim Carrey is a much more diverse actor than he's given credit for. He's A comedian yes, but he's also good for both biopics ("Man on the Moon") and dramas ("The Truman Show" and others). (I'm still waiting for "Mission: Impossible 8" with Carrey as Tom Cruise.) I remember watching this when I was younger, and I only really remembered the movie theater part, but this movie is amazingly more complex than I recalled. Laurie Holden is beautiful as Adele and while I didn't much like the love triangle going on with a dead guy, I'll let it slide this one time. Some of the other cityfolk were great, like James Whitmore and Brent Biscoe. Matt Damon did the voice of Luke Trimble and I kinda fangirl'd a little at that. (Bruce Campbell and Cliff Curtis in the film-in-a-film were awesome.) Overall it's a very solid film, even though it was really long.

EDIT: Now that I think about it, they didn't really explain how he was so good at piano. :/

That old amnesia plot strikes again! Star-vehicle for Jim Carrey force-feeds the audience good intentions

[moonspinner55 · 3/10 · 8 June 2014]

Square and simple-minded filmmaking. Jim Carrey plays a troubled b-movie screenwriter in 1951 Hollywood who suffers amnesia after smacking his head following an auto accident; he washes ashore on a picture-postcard coastal town full of lovable codgers and all-American townsfolk who believe he's a soldier thought dead after the war (the fit and well-scrubbed Carrey hardly looks like a battle-scarred war veteran!). Director Frank Darabont, working from a dewy screenplay by Michael Sloane, aims for no higher ambition than tugging at viewers' heartstrings; the two men pile on the presumed-need for warm nostalgia in attempt to make an emotional connection with a mass audience, when actually just some smart writing would suffice. There isn't a wet cinematic cliché that Sloane doesn't try to resurrect, while Carrey (reeling it in for prestige) drifts through the picture staring at everyone's top shirt button. The film isn't a disaster--it's handsomely made, and the car crash is amusingly carried off--but it's a ringer, a substitute for Preston Sturges. *1/2 from ****

Finally,a Jim Carrey movie I like.

[SmileysWorld · 26 June 2002]

I have been a big fan of Jim Carrey since his "In Living Color" days. I always felt he had a bright future ahead of him,as talented as the man is.I very much looked forward to the man's film career beginning, but sadly,at least for me anyway,his big screen efforts have left a lot to be desired.Most of Carrey's films have been ridden with oversexed dialog and toilet humor.Finally,a much more toned down Carrey gives me something to smile about.His efforts in The Majestic are simply amazing. The slapstick humor is put aside,very delicately,and what we have is a very appealing fictional story,with Carrey making an excellent romantic and dramatic lead.If you go into the watching of this film looking for the outrageous hairdo of Ace Ventura,the hideous green mask,or anything of the like from his previous films,this will be a big disappointment to you,but if you go into it with an open mind about what he can accomplish dramatically,you will be most pleased.Things are looking up for Jim Carrey.Also,Martin Landau is great as always in a supporting role.Thumbs up!