The MaskBehind every mask is an ordinary guy...but a mask can make the ordinary extraordinary. Such is the case for mild-mannered banker, Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey), who discovers a strange, green mask floating in the river one night. After putting it on, he is transformed from the put upon Stanley into a whirling dervish of Looney Tunes-inspired mania and outlandish humor called "The Mask". Though he catches the eye of the ravishing chanteuse, Tina Carlyle (Cameron Diaz), he also inadvertently attracts the unwelcome attention of Dorian Tyrell (Peter Greene)--local thug and Tina's boyfriend--after knocking over a bank before him. Suddenly, The Mask becomes public enemy number one in Edge City for cops and crooks alike.
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The Mask was among a series of early 1990s comic book movie adaptations, many which were taken from independent comics, like The Crow. Like its contemporaries, the world of The Mask is an exaggerated, "comic book" version of reality. Edge City is a heavily industrialized city, combining modern urban grime and art deco vibes, a bit like Batman and Dick Tracy. This look suits The Mask, since Stanley's alter ego is itself a caricature that feels like a cartoon given flesh. Stanley's interests are simple--he enjoys playing with his unusually smart and generally well-behaved Jack Russell Terrier, Milo. He kicks back after work while watching VHS reruns of classic cartoons from the Golden Age of Warner Brothers animators like Chuck Jones and Tex Avery. These pleasures are his escape from a downtrodden and demeaning existence in Edge City, where virtually everyone else--with the exception of Tina and perhaps his semi-oblivious co-worker, Charlie (Richard Jeni)--treats Stanley like a chump, and berates him, condescends, lies, and even abuses him. Stanley is a self-professed hopeless romantic; a letter he wrote to the local paper was well received, according to local columnist, Peggy Brandt (Amy Yasbeck), who interviews Stanley after The Mask robs the bank where Stanley works. Just like Peggy talks of her romantic column not paying the bills, Stanley has tried to come to terms with leveraging his wistful wishes for true love in the grungy, real world. Stanley's patience is frequently tested by everyone from corrupt auto mechanics to sniveling middle management at work. This makes the payoff when Stanley puts on the ancient mask with an eerie, translucent glow all the more rewarding, since all of his inhibitions and self-doubt evaporates, replaced with his cool and exciting--if unsettling--green-faced counterpart.
The Mask teases that the ancient mask--alluded to contain the spirit of the Norse "night god", Loki--is a metaphor for Stanley's own repressed id, discussed between him and Dr. Arthur Neuman (Ben Stein), local psychologist and mask enthusiast. The Mask leaves psychoanalysis in the background in favor of wild and ridiculous antics. Elaborate dance routines and cartoon motifs take center stage, making The Mask more like Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (Even Tina is a surrogate for the voluptuous Jessica Rabbit; the slinky red dress with a plunging neckline that she wears when Stanley and Charlie first see her makes their tongues loll out of their mouths.) It wouldn't be at all surprising if The Mask were an animated movie; but by merging the real and the animated, it not only accentuates how distinct The Mask is when contrasted with the real world, but it affords the talented Jim Carrey the perfect spotlight in which to shine. Casting Jim Carrey as Stanley Ipkiss/The Mask capitalizes on his physical comedy skills that few others possess. He is sympathetic as the hapless Stanley yet is able to conjure up Daffy Duck-esque insanity as The Mask like flipping a switch. For other hopeless romantics like Stanley, it is satisfying to see his relationship progress with the astronomically out-of-his-league Tina. What begins as a case job for Dorian develops into something more when she comes back to the bank to see Stanley after the heist. Even if she got her shoes literally blasted off her feet after her dizzying dance and kiss with The Mask at the Coco Bongo Club--a front for Dorian's crime empire--she doesn't know Stanley is The Mask; she returns because she feels guilty for lying to him. She genuinely appreciates his sympathy, more than the thrilling charms of the outlandish Mask. Stanley represents something unique for Tina--a good guy--and the respect he shows her is what makes him desirable. It takes a while before Stanley accepts that Tina likes him for him, but it is an part of The Mask that sometimes goes overlooked in light of the hilarity. Stanley's learns that he doesn't need to pretend to be someone else to find what he's looking for.
Recommended for: Fans of a funny and high-energy comic book adaptation that wears its cartoon inspiration on its zoot-suited sleeve. The Mask was such a hugely profitable film, that not only does it have the distinction of being a cult classic, but it helped to propel the careers of Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz into stardom.
The Mask teases that the ancient mask--alluded to contain the spirit of the Norse "night god", Loki--is a metaphor for Stanley's own repressed id, discussed between him and Dr. Arthur Neuman (Ben Stein), local psychologist and mask enthusiast. The Mask leaves psychoanalysis in the background in favor of wild and ridiculous antics. Elaborate dance routines and cartoon motifs take center stage, making The Mask more like Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (Even Tina is a surrogate for the voluptuous Jessica Rabbit; the slinky red dress with a plunging neckline that she wears when Stanley and Charlie first see her makes their tongues loll out of their mouths.) It wouldn't be at all surprising if The Mask were an animated movie; but by merging the real and the animated, it not only accentuates how distinct The Mask is when contrasted with the real world, but it affords the talented Jim Carrey the perfect spotlight in which to shine. Casting Jim Carrey as Stanley Ipkiss/The Mask capitalizes on his physical comedy skills that few others possess. He is sympathetic as the hapless Stanley yet is able to conjure up Daffy Duck-esque insanity as The Mask like flipping a switch. For other hopeless romantics like Stanley, it is satisfying to see his relationship progress with the astronomically out-of-his-league Tina. What begins as a case job for Dorian develops into something more when she comes back to the bank to see Stanley after the heist. Even if she got her shoes literally blasted off her feet after her dizzying dance and kiss with The Mask at the Coco Bongo Club--a front for Dorian's crime empire--she doesn't know Stanley is The Mask; she returns because she feels guilty for lying to him. She genuinely appreciates his sympathy, more than the thrilling charms of the outlandish Mask. Stanley represents something unique for Tina--a good guy--and the respect he shows her is what makes him desirable. It takes a while before Stanley accepts that Tina likes him for him, but it is an part of The Mask that sometimes goes overlooked in light of the hilarity. Stanley's learns that he doesn't need to pretend to be someone else to find what he's looking for.
Recommended for: Fans of a funny and high-energy comic book adaptation that wears its cartoon inspiration on its zoot-suited sleeve. The Mask was such a hugely profitable film, that not only does it have the distinction of being a cult classic, but it helped to propel the careers of Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz into stardom.