The movie that made Jim Carrey want to “cave the critics’ heads in”
Actors often don’t enjoy hearing what critics say about their films; it’s something of an occupational hazard. However, such intense imagery from beloved funnyman Jim Carrey must stem from some strong feelings—and perhaps an even stronger film. Carrey has demonstrated his serious range over the years; we’ve shed tears during Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and we were intrigued when he ventured into horror (even if the reviews kept some at home). Yet, this particular film leans more toward straight drama, with Roger Ebert noting it features Carrey at his most “likeable“.
Ebert, however, was in the minority of critics when it came to The Majestic. The film, by all reasonable indicators, should have been a huge success. It was directed by Frank Darabont only two years after he took the helm of The Green Mile and seven years after directing The Shawshank Redemption. Carrey, too, was on a roll: he’d done How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Liar Liar, The Truman Show and played Andy Kauffman in Man on the Moon, all in the previous five years. However, critics weren’t impressed.
Flash forward to the press tour for Bruce Almighty, and Carrey is asked what he’d actually do if he had God’s power for a day: “First of all, I’d send anybody who didn’t like The Majestic to the fiery pit of hell,” says Carrey, making clear his feelings about the film and its critics. “Then I’d start a new Utopian society made of people made out of nerf material so I could cave the critics’ heads in and they would pop right out again. No one would be hurt, and I’d get my rocks off. That is, of course, if there was anybody left to start a new society.”
For a moment, let’s consider that this is his one thing to do with the power of God. If you think about that for more than a moment, you’ll realise how strongly he feels about this film. And frankly, I can see why he does, I can see why anyone involved in The Majestic fell in love with it.
The plot revolves around Carrey’s character, a 1950s Hollywood screenwriter accused of communist ties. After a car accident, he loses his memory and is washed ashore in a small town, where he’s mistaken for a young man who was lost during WWII. What ensues is a Frank Capra-style story, with good, honest small-town Americans rallying together to revive their local movie theatre and bring the town back to life after a difficult war.
The film ticks many boxes, being a celebration of cinema, classic Hollywood, and American ideals of community. Most notably, it mirrors the real-life accusations of communism Frank Capra faced for It’s a Wonderful Life, adding a deeper layer of historical context.
Yes, it’s overly long, and yes, it’s a bit predictable, but can you truly pay tribute to a type of film so ingrained in our collective psyche without falling into its tropes? Tellingly, Jim Carrey directs his frustration specifically toward critics, while audiences seem to have a more favourable view. So, Jim, while your words may have come off a little strong, it seems most people are on your side with this one.
