The Best and Worst of Jim Carrey

“The Best and Worst of” series chronicles the career highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography of “Sonic the Hedgehog” star Jim Carrey.

Films starring Jim Carrey that I've seen:
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective 
The Mask
Dumb and Dumber
Batman Forever
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
Liar Liar
The Truman Show
Me, Myself & Irene
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Bruce Almighty
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Fun with Dick and Jane
Yes Man
Mr. Popper's Penguins
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone 
Kick-Ass 2
Dumb and Dumber To

Best Performance: Me, Myself & Irene (2000)
Lloyd Christmas and Ace Ventura are iconic goofball characters that Carrey was born to play while Truman Burbank showed off his tremendous dramatic acting ability that has unsurprisingly been underutilized since his comedy gifts launched his career. That being said, his work in Me, Myself & Irene managed to impress more than any of those aforementioned turns. Playing a Rhode Island State Trooper with dual personalities gave Carrey an opportunity to give a multi-faceted performance that not only allowed him to steal scenes with his unmatched commitment to selling physical comedy bits, but also beautifully convey the tenderness and charm that complements the crass absurdity that this Farrelly Brothers project is known for.  

Worst Performance: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Carrey tends to be a lightning rod whose manic energy props up even the shittiest of projects he's appeared in (The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Batman Forever, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events). The lone exception to that rule is his miscalculated turn in Ron Howard's poor live action remake of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Carrey's performance is neither menacing or heartfelt enough to capture the two sides of Whoville's favorite outsider villain turned beloved citizen who is entrusted with carving the Roast Beast.  

Best Film: Me, Myself & Irene (2000)
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Dumb and Dumber and Liar Liar are tremendous pieces of absurdist comedy that I hold in very high regard. Me, Myself & Irene just hit those same notes harder and better. Carrey is a tour de force in this completely hilarious, insane and deceptively sweet film that represents what is possible when the Farrelly Brothers are at the top of their game.

Worst Film: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)
Remember The Incredible Burt Wonderstone? Well, I don't really either. How a John Frances Daley/Jonathan Goldstein-penned comedy that starred Steve Carrell, Steve Buscemi, Carrey, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin and the late great James Gandolfini ended up being so god damn forgettable is the type of mystery that is just too baffling to solve.

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “The Call Of the Wild” star Karen Gillan.