Liar, Liar *** (1997, Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney, Justin Cooper) – Classic Movie Review 2312

Director Tom Shadyac’s 1997 comedy provides a vehicle for one of the biggest hits of Jim Carrey, who enjoys himself in an ideal, tailor-made role as Fletcher Reede, a sycophantic, smooth-talking divorce attorney whose talent for habitual lying sways juries and wins many cases.

But his five-year-old son Max (Justin Cooper) wants an end to the lies. When his dad forgets Max’s birthday and rings in with yet another weak excuse, the boy wishes his pop to spend a whole day incapable of lying. Then, on the day of his father’s most important case, the wish comes true, with disastrous results in the courtroom.

Despite some wobbly scripting by Paul Guay and Stephen Mazur, a familiar yarn with few surprises and an essentially soft centre, this amusing comedy is a success for a confident Carrey, taking him effectively in the direction of character comedy and away from silly slapstick and mugging.

Also in the cast are Maura Tierney, Jennifer Tilly, Amanda Donohoe, Swoosie Kurtz, Jason Bernard, Mitchell Ryan, Anne Haney, Carey Elwes, Randall ‘Tex’ Cobb and Don Keefer as the beggar at the courthouse.

It cost a fairly hefty $45million, but took back more than $180million at the US box office, a triumph.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2312

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Don Keefer as the beggar at the courthouse.