The “perfect” co-star Jim Carrey called “the man that every man aspires to be”
Jim Carrey has never been one to conform to the world of classic Hollywood fame. The actor has opened up about his inquisitive and spiritual beliefs, attempts to move away from Hollywood and his ongoing struggles with depression and ADHD.
Carrey’s early life was punctuated with homelessness and poverty, and he seemed destined for the steel mills in which his father worked in Ontario rather than the stage.
Despite this, Carrey went on to become loved by many for his wild and wacky slapstick films like Ace Ventura, The Mask and Dumb and Dumber, leading to him often being typecast towards comedy. But Carrey has also taken on impressive roles in thought-provoking, quirky and meditative films like The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
In keeping with his quirky personality, when Carrey announced he was considering retirement in April 2022, he explained, “I have enough. I’ve done enough. I am enough” and added that he would return to acting if “angels bring some sort of script that’s written in gold ink that says to me that it’s going to be really important for people to see.”
So when the team behind the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise—in which Carrey starred in the first two films as the villainous genius Dr. Ivo Robotnik—announced they would be releasing a third movie in 2024, they rose to the challenge. Director Jeff Fowler sent a copy of the script for Sonic The Hedgehog 3 to Carrey, written in 24-carat ink.
In response, Carrey conceded and went on to revive his role as Dr Robotnik alongside actor Keanu Reeves, who was announced to play Shadow the Hedgehog for the third film.
Despite filming Iranian director Ana Lily Amirpour’s The Bad Batch together in 2016, the pair’s friendship really blossomed while filming Sonic. The two struck up a sweet friendship despite never actually being in the same room on set.
In an interview with Access Hollywood while promoting the film, Carrey said that when he heard Reeves’ voiceover work, he thought, “That is so in the pocket and perfect.” He added, “I mean, this beautiful stoic nature that he has, he really elevated it completely from what I was even thinking it could be so I was super happy that he’s involved.”
The pair revealed they had admired each others’ work for a long time, with Carrey adding that Reeves was “the man every man aspires to be”.
“He’s very cool and I think you know it’s just another cool move in a lifetime of cool moves for him,” he explained. Reeves reciprocated the praise, describing his co-star as a “creative genius”.
It’s hard to imagine a universe in which these two unique and much alike actors were ever not friends. Both Reeves and Carrey have had a difficult relationship with fame, tentatively existing on the peripheries of Hollywood.
Both have also suffered personal tragedies, but are known for being kind to others and down to earth, and both have struggled with mental health, but ultimately stayed true to themselves. Better late than never.
