Product Description
The Mask (1994)(#ad)
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 101 minutes
Director: Charles Russell
Cast:
Cameron Diaz
Jim Carrey
Richard Jeni
Amy Yasbeck
Peter Riegert
Peter Greene
Stars: 3.5/5 stars
Overview
This 1994 superhero fantasy comedy movie was directed by Charles Russell and produced by Bob Engelman. It’s based on the comic series of the same name that’s distributed by Dark Horse comics. The movie stars Jim Carey, Cameron Diaz, and others. This is Diaz’s movie debut. The story is based on a bank clerk that finds the mask that gives superpowers to the wearer of the mask. If you want to watch movies online this is an excellent option.
The movie was released by New Line Cinema in 1994. It became a success commercially and critically. The movie had a $23 million budget and grossed $351.6 million worldwide. It also resulted in Carey establishing himself as one of the top actors of the 1990s. The movie was nominated for various awards including an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
Director/Cast
The director Charles Russell is a US director, producers, and screenwriter. His films include Nightmare on Elm Street 3, The Blob, Eraser, and The Scorpion King and Collateral.
Jim Carey is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, and producer. He became famous for his role in the comedy TV series In Living Color. He then starred in various movies including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995), Batman Forever (1995), The Truman Show (1998), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Horton Hears a Who! (2008” and A Christmas Carol (2009), and Dumb and Dumber To (2014).
Plot Summary
This is one of the best comedy flicks available on Amazon movies unlimited. The movie centers on Stanley Ipkiss who’s a shy/unlucky clerk who works at a bank in Edge City. People around him often ridicule him except for Milo his dog and Charlie Schumaker who is his best friend and co-worker.
A gangster named Dorian Tyrell owns the nightclub Coco Bongo and plans to overthrow his boss named Niko. Tyrell sends his girlfriend Tina Carlyle into the bank where Stanley works at. The reason is to record the layout as he’s planning to rob it.
Stanley becomes attracted to Tina and she seems to be interested in him. Stanley can’t get into the Coco Bongo so he can watch Tina sing. So he finds a wooden mask located near the city of the harbor. When he puts the mask on it turns him into a green-faced trickster called the Mask.
He’s able to change himself and his environment when he wants to. Stanley is able to avenge his enemies and scares off a gang that tries to rob him. He does that by converting a balloon into a gun.
Then during the next morning, Stanley meets a detective and newspaper reporter who are investing the activities of the Mask during the night before. Stanley becomes the Mask so he can see Tina perform. He dances with Tina at the Coco Bongo. Stanley is able to stop the bank robbery so the men are arrested.
Tina later visits Stanley at the police station because he’s suspected of robbing the bank. He encourages her to leave the city. Tina then thanks, Stanley and informs him that she knew that he was the Mask. She attempts to leave the city but Tyrell’s men capture her and take her to a Coco Bongo charity ball.
Tyrell then kills Niko and prepares to destroy the club and Tina using dynamite. Stanley is able to escape with the help of Milo. Stanley then brings Kellaway as a hostage so he can stop Tyrell. Later he’s able to save Tina by using his special powers. He sends Tyrell down the drain of a fountain at the club. Then the police and the rest of Tyrrell’s henchmen are arrested. Stanley is released and is called a hero for his actions.
Then during the next day, all of the charges made against Stanley are dropped. Stanley then decides to put the mask back in the harbor. The mask is then thrown into the water by Tina. Milo is swimming away with the mask.
Background
In 1989 executives of Dark Horse comics went to New Line Cinema to talk about adapting the comic to a movie. They had already had other offers. There were various ideas for the Mask movie but many of them were shelved for various reasons.
Chuck Russell was interested in directing the film. However, he thought the script had too much violence. He thought it should be more fun. Russell asked Mike Webb to help him turn the movie into a romantic comedy. Webb wrote the movie’s first draft in 6 weeks. The movie got a thumbs up in less than 2 months afterward.
There was reportedly a screenplay for a film version of the Mask in 1990. Another draft was written in 1991 and more humor was added. Afterwards, the film had a lot of development problems.
A sequel was planned for The Mask. However, Jim Carrey left the project later. Son of the Mask was released in 2005 but received bad reviews from critics.
Release/Reception
The movie earned $119 million the US and $350 globally. It became the top-grossing superhero movie during that time after Batman. The movie has also received a 77% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Meanwhile, Metacritic gave the movie 56/100 due to mixed/average reviews.
The Mask was nominated for the Best Visual Effects award at the 67th Academy Awards. However, it lost to “Forrest Gump” that year. Carrey received a nomination for a Golden Globe award.
The movie was released on VHS/Laserdisc in January 1995 by New Line Home Video. The VHS version includes some extras. The movie was later released on Blu-ray in December 2008. The Blu-ray version included several features including production details, extra scenes, and 2 commentary tracks.
