Liar Liar - A Movie Review

The truth can’t hurt, right?

In 1997, the uproarious comedy Liar Liar hit the screens. Fletcher Reede is a lawyer who gets by in life lying about everything. One night his young son makes a wish that his father doesn’t lie for a full day. Fletcher’s inability to lie finds him struggling with a court case and his family.

I cannot believe that it has taken me this long to see Liar Liar. Hilarious is an understatement when it comes to describing this film. Now, I cannot get enough of this film, watching numerous clips of Jim Carrey’s hilarious performance on Youtube. This is the type of comedy that you don’t see anymore.

Jim Carrey is one of the craziest actors and yet he is a comical genius, Fletcher is not a sincere man, but learns a valuable lesson about himself. I love the way Carrey played this part, acting bizarrely and over the top but keeping himself grounded when he needs to be. He pulls off a convincing lawyer.

Thrashing himself about, Carrey noted that he was exhausted at the end of each day. Remember the scene where he beats himself up in the bathroom? That’s actually Carrey hitting himself against the walls and rolling on the floor.

As you may guess, Carrey steals the show, but the supporting cast gets their moments to shine. Jennifer Tilly is the best example. Known for playing bubbly and sweet characters, Tilly is unrecognizable as a promiscuous and haughty woman attempting to deceive her nature in the court case.

The film has a memorable cast of supporting actors, though some could have been fleshed out more. Justin Cooper was a wonderful kid actor, portraying a child yearning for his father’s affection. He does a great job acting with Carrey in their scenes. Their bond evolves throughout the film sharing more bonding moments.

The plotline for Liar Liar is so simple yet it is so effective. However, the whole storyline with Fletcher’s family could have been stronger. Audrey and Jerry (Maura Tierney and Cary Elwes) were dull characters.

The divorced family storyline felt tedious. Did it need to be in the film? it’s reminiscent of other stories. Scenes involving the court case make this film stand out.

Any role in Liar Liar is fun, including their reactions to Fletcher’s madness. Anne Haney is memorable as Fletcher’s sarcastic and savior assistant, Greta. The late Jason Bernard does a great job in his final role as the judge. He delivers a memorable one-liner. Their performances are the best examples of how to make small roles stand out.

Most viewers have had mixed opinions about Liar Liar due to its zany comedy. Comedy does not have one definition. Liar Liar is well-paced with one laugh after another. The dialogue is packed with memorable one-liners and comedic exchanges that keep the audience engaged from start to finish.

A lot of heart was put into this film. Tom Shadyac did a commendable job with the direction, complimenting Carrey’s comedic style while ensuring the story had emotional depth. The ending feels like a fantasy and somewhat rushed. The story should have been left with an open ending.

I always burst out laughing at the scenes where Fletcher drives recklessly through traffic only to get pulled over by a cop followed by beating himself up in the bathroom. Each time I watch these scenes, I burst out laughing, at Carrey's comedic brilliance.

Liar Liar is streaming on Netflix. Take a chance and watch this film. It brightens up your day just watching a clip of this movie.