Review of Son of the Mask (2005) by Rebecca H — 26 Feb 2009

One of those who-wanted-it sequels. Fair enough, the mask of the first film is thrown away, so it could easily find its way into the hands of absolutely anyone, so as sequel premises go, there is logic here. However, The Mask is a ghastly film which was only popular because a) it was the early nineties when anything that could be marketed as a family film, even complete schlock, was acceptable and b) Jim Carrey was still fresh (albeit sickening) talent. 11 years later and I'm not sure we needed a sequel. Thankfully this film in no way follows the structure of the first film, which is a refreshing change for a pointless sequel. And here we are in a cartoony world, which is where the humour comes from, because what really didn't work about The Mask was having only one cartoony character horribly jarring with a normal world.

However, unsurprisingly, it isn't very good. For the first quarter at least, none of the actors seem comfortable with what they're working with and it's all very trite. And the two moments in the film when Tim Avery (Jamie Kennedy) puts the mask on are eye-scratchingly embarrassing, as he doesn't do anything with the role and becomes rigid and dull. What is far more enjoyable and convincing is when Tim doesn't have the mask on and is utterly terrified of his sadist baby who hates him. Kennedy is convincing when he's petrified, and the section before this, when he's on the edge of sanity due to the stress a newborn gives you is also watchable stuff. And although it is out of place, the fatherly issues make a nice point for a family film, demonstrated between Tim and baby and gods Loki (Alan Cumming) and Odin (Bob Hoskins) and are far welcomer than the first film's obsession with sex, which is hardly suitable in a children's film.

This film is occasionally very funny. Unfortunately, it's also occasionally utterly rubbish, there are far too many bodily function jokes (none is the only acceptable amount), and it really shouldn't be a Mask film. Why not just a film about a baby who hates his dad, and a dog who hates the baby? That's where this film works. When it wants to be Looney Tunes, not when it wants to be The Mask.