The Hot Streaks of Jim Carrey
October 9, 2013 Ben DiCostanzo Features, Hot Streaks
Hot Streaks is a look at the times when comedians at the height of their power. Comedy comes in waves, and with it comedians ride the success of public adoration and creativeness. During these times (usually around 5 years), comedians are putting out some of their most successful projects. So with that being said, let’s take a look at some of the hot streaks some of the best comedians have out there.
Up this Week, Jim Carrey
Hot Streak: 1994-2003
Key Projects: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, Liar Liar, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, The Cable Guy, Me, Myself, and Irene, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Bruce Almighty
Power Ranking: 8.5
After Jim Carrey’s career began in the mid 80s with small movie roles and a killer stand-up act. He was on the rise as a stand-out player in the FOX sketch comedy show In Living Color. But his career exploded in 1994 when he learned to talk through his ass in the hilarious and instantly quotable, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Then came The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber later that same year. The wacky, out of control style of Jim Carrey was born and ready for more. He was the perfect choice to play The Riddler in Batman Forever because of his animated physical style of comedy. But he wasn’t even close to being done. Liar Liar is just another perfect example of how big Carrey was in the 90s. No one else can run, yell, and act like a crazy person quite like Jim Carrey. His nine year hot streak featured 11 films that perfectly exemplified how someone with Carrey’s characteristics can be a successful comedy actor.
Carrey tried to break through in more serious roles with The Truman Show and The Majestic. And did with rave roles as the comedy idol Andy Kaufman in the biopic Man on the Moon and the indie film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. But his work in the 00s never lived up to his explosion of comedy flicks in the 90s. Though great in films like Fun with Dick and Jane, Yes Man, and A Series of Unfortunate Events, they were not met with the same enthusiasm as his biggest films. He was even nominated for a Razzie for Worst Actor for The Number 23 in 2007. But everyone’s hot streak has to come to an end at some point, but Jim Carrey fans will never forget his extremely impressive, hilarious, and out of control acting during his nine years at the helm of the comedy world.
