The Mask Parent Guide

Jim Carrey plays Stanley Ipkiss, a bank clerk who finds an ancient mask that sends him into a whirling frenzy whenever he puts it on. Moments later, out emerges a cool, smooth talkin’ guy with a green face along with Stanley’s new personality which represents his inner feelings and desires.

I won’t bore you further with details. This film has much more morphing and warping than plot and story. What little story there is has only one twist, and you might as well be surprised. But, if you think your kids are interested in this movie, you may want to take a look at it before you give them the keys to the VCR. A fantasy allows most anything to happen, and actions don’t have to be justified. When Carrey plays the Mask character, he is indestructible. I could never count the bullets shot in this movie, but more lead gets pumped into Carrey than a pencil factory, and many other characters are murdered as well.

When they aren’t shooting each other, sex is the topic. If you have seen Carrey’s last move, the incredibly stupid Ace Ventura, you already know what this actor is best at. There is no outright nudity here, but the innuendo is always present when the shooting isn’t. Amazingly, the language is quite tame, especially considering the PG-13 rating.

But the biggest problem is that the mask character represents a 1990’s superhero who robs banks for his own self-gratification, and cannot keep his hands off of any female that walks by. His 1930’s Maffia style character smokes up a storm (one of the main buzzwords from this movie is “ssssmokin!”) and only has redeeming qualities when compared to the crooks that surround him in the story. What rubbish!

Here again is a movie with a good idea and incredible special effects that relies on all the same things to generate humor and interest: Sex and violence. Granted, there are some funny lines, but unless you like picking for treasure at a garbage dump, you may want to pass.

About author

Rod Gustafson

Rod Gustafson has worked in various media industries since 1977. He founded Parent Previews in 1993, and today continues to write and broadcast the reviews in newspapers, on radio and (of course) on the Internet. His efforts also include writing and researching media in all its forms and observing how it effects society and culture. He and his wife Donna have four children.