Review of Liar Liar (1997) by Jake Y — 08 Feb 2013

Max Reede: I wish, for just one day, Dad couldn't tell a lie. .

"Would I lie to you?".

Here's the thing with Liar Liar; it's just not funny. It's not and even everyone involved knows it isn't. When a concept comedy, like this should have been, is turned into an all out silly, gag fest; it undermines the genre. The concept isn't bad. A lawyer can't lie for a day because his son, whom he is constantly lying to, makes a wish that for one day he won't. It could lead to some funny court room scenes, but instead the movie rides on Jim Carey's Ace Ventura character's manifest. It's all too ridiculous to find funny.

I don't dislike Jim Carey. His form of comedy works in some movies, but I don't think this is one of them. Also, I believe Carey really can act if he throws the ridiculous demeanor aside and truly just acts, like in Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind. This movie really falls apart with me after we have to constantly see Carey's character screaming and twitching and God knows what else.

I wouldn't go as far as to say this is a terrible movie because it has good intentions, and good intentions are good. I just think it is badly judged and goes in the complete wrong direction from where it should have. Obviously a lot of people love this movie, and for what reason, I'll never know. Even for the Jim Carey comedies that are ridiculous, this one falls very, very low for me. Watch it if you must, but just know, it's no classic.