Liar Liar
ON VIDEO SEPTEMBER 3, 1997
Rating: PG-13
Review Date: POSTED 07-21-97
Stars: Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney, Justin Cooper, Cary Elwes,
Jennifer Tilly
Fletcher Reede (Jim Carrey) is a lawyer and not only does he lie in court,
but he also frequently lies to his young son Max (Justin Cooper). His wife
Audrey (Maura Tierney), struggles with seeing the disappointed look on
Max's face every time another promise goes unfulfilled. And she is being
courted heavily by Jerry (Cary Elwes) for a possible move to Boston from
L.A. That's the basic underlying background, doesn't sound much like a
comedy does it? But that all changes when Max wishes that his dad can't
tell a lie for one whole day. Imagine a lawyer with a blockbuster case
not being able to tell a lie for one whole day.
Now since he can no longer tell a lie, Fletcher tells people what he really
thinks. From the sexual "partner" to the office co-workers, to the judge;
Fletcher tells the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Though Liar Liar starts slow during its setup of the story, once
Max makes his wish the comedy moves at a feverish pace. Heck Carrey can't
even say a blue pen is red (a small lie but still a lie). Liar Liar
does its best to make us laugh and for me, at least, it succeeds.
I've always liked Carrey but after last summer's awful film (The Cable
Guy) I was a little leary. All the advanced material for Liar Liar
however, made me want to see this film. I was not disappointed. I believe
that this film is one of the funniest movies of 1997. Jim Carrey seems
back on top of his game.
And Carrey's supporting cast hleps as well with Maura Tierney, Cary Elwes,
Jennifer Tilly, and Justin Cooper as Carrey's son Max. Cooper helps the
movie the way Mara Wilson helped Mrs. Doubtfire, Jonathon Lipnicki
helped Jerry Maguire, and Ross Malinger helped Sleepless in Seattle.
Let's face it, a good child actor in movies is always fun to watch. I definitely
recommend Liar Liar.
Grade: A
Parents Guide: Liar Liar's PG-13 rating is for sexual innuendo,
sexual situations, and language. Remember the theme of this movie is lying.
But of course the underlying message is that lying is bad and it can get
you into a lot of trouble. Carrey has a large number of kids that are fans
since the Ace films, The Mask and Dumb and Dumber, and a
lot of them will want to see this film. All in all it's not a bad PG-13
film to let kids see.