Liar Liar (1997)

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

Director:

Tom Shadyac

Writers:

Paul Guay, Stephen Mazur

Stars:

Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney, Amanda Donohoe

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
Mitchell Ryan	...	Mr. Allan
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 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 Reede.

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Plot Keywords:

birthday wish | obscene finger gesture | female stockinged feet | pantyhose | workaholic | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The script was turned down nine times before producer Brian Grazer bought it. He only heard two sentences about the movie before he bought the idea.

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Goofs

When Fletcher is wrestling with the pen, he pins his arm down and says "Write it or I'll break it off". He had no intention of breaking his own arm off, therefore this was a lie which he should not have been able to tell. However, given Fletcher extremely energetic and wacky antics, he was probably concerned that he could break his arm.

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Quotes

Fletcher: The pen is blue, the pen is blue, the goddamn pen is blue!

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Crazy Credits

Outtakes are shown during the credits.

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Alternate Versions

Randall 'Tex' Cobb's role (as "Skull) was considerably shortened prior to release. Originally filmed was a courtroom prologue where Fletcher successfully defends Skull using his usual, less-than-truthful tactics. Also filmed was a sequence in the jail where Fletcher meets Skull again in jail. The courtroom prologue was dropped entirely, but remnants of it still remain in the original theatrical trailers. The jail-cell scene was shortened, so much so that Cobb only has one line in the entire film, despite a prominent billing. The prologue is featured in the 'deleted scenes' section of the Special Edition DVD release.

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Connections

Referenced in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Episode dated 17 June 2001 (2001)

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Soundtracks

Happy Birthday to You
(uncredited)
Written by Patty S. Hill and Mildred J. Hill
Performed by Jim Carrey and Maura Tierney

User Reviews

I love this movie!!

I loved this movie, it's so funny :D one of the best comedy movies ever!!! It has (like many movies) a message, that it's best to tell the truth, but above all it was very funny. My favorite scene was:

About Mr. Allen

Miranda: Well, what do you think of him? Fletcher: He's a pedantic, pontificating, pretentious bastard, a belligerent old fart, a worthless steaming pile of cow dung, figuratively speaking. a moment passes and Mr. Allen starts laughing. The other board members follow his lead and start laughing also] Mr. Allen: That's the funniest damn thing I have ever heard. You're a real card, Reede. I love a good roast. Do Simmons. Fletcher: Simmons is old. He should have been out of the game years ago but he can't stay home because he hates his wife. You have met her at the Christmas parties, she's the one that gets plastered and calls him a retard, and you, Tom; you're the biggest brown nose I have ever seen. You have got your head so far up Mr. Allen's ass, I can't tell where you end and he begins. Mr. Allen: *roaring with laughter* Priceless! *Fletcher continues with every member* Fletcher: You have bad breath caused by gingivitis. You couldn't get a porn star off. Your hairpiece looks like something that was killed crossing the highway. I don't know whether to comb it or scrape it off with a shovel and bury it in lime. Loser! Idiot! Wimp! Degenerate! *Slut*! Mr. Allen: I like your style, Reede! That's just what this stuffy company needs - a little irreverence! Fletcher: Good! I'll see you later, dick-head!

Great movie!!!

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 March 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Liar Liar

Filming Locations:

1004 Highland Street, South Pasadena, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$45,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$31,423,025, 23 March 1997

Gross USA:

$181,410,615

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$302,710,615

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