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Smokin’: Jim Carrey and the World Surrounding ‘The Mask (1994)’
Reimagining a violent comic for the big screen
Caution: contains spoilers.
Let’s rewind to my first day of kindergarten in early 2000. I told my mom if I stayed, could she buy me The Mask? Of course, it’s not ridiculous for a five-year-old to ask for The Mask, given I saw my parents viewing it the other day. So once school dismissed, mom awaited me in the car with The Mask on VHS.
Since then, I’ve watched The Mask countless times. I enjoyed watching Jim Carrey and the city revolving around The Mask. I remember almost every one-liner and use them in everyday conversation.
However, I never considered what made this movie what it was.
I understand the filmmakers based it on the Dark Horse comics. The comics were more surreal, bloody, and graphic than the film. It’s fascinating how the filmmakers adapted a beloved classic. Its winning formula made millions and became the highest-grossing comic book movie in 1994.
No one stopped me as I explained what made The Mask special.
Jim Carrey is the mask
After multiple script rewrites, the director, Chuck Russell, had the writers tailor The Mask for Jim Carrey after seeing him…
