First
of all, let me start out by saying I have quite a soft spot for the Farrelly Brothers.
It took me a while to warm up to the sophomoric antics of Dumb and Dumber but
I was an instant fan of Kingpin and an even bigger admirer of There's Something
About Mary. Maybe that's why Me, Myself, and Irene is such a letdown. Because
I had somewhat high expectations.
Jim
Carrey plays Charlie, a sweet natured police officer in a small town, who has
a hard time dealing with the fact that his new wife has left him for another man.
Rather than dealing with the problem outright, Charlie represses his feelings.
Before too long, Charlie's emotions are savagely released in the form of Hank,
an abrasive and quite violent alter ego who whispers his dialogue in a sort of
ode to Clint Eastwood.
First
and foremost, The Farrelly Brothers aren't known for their kind sense of humor.
Vulgarity and shock value are their calling cards. Usually, they keep the jokes
coming fast and furious, and show a kind of fearlessness unmatched in today's
crop of comedies. What really makes the audience look past the raunchiness in
a Farrelly Brothers film, is the fact that these film-makers have a genuine love
for their characters. Which is where this latest feature falters--these characters
just don't seem all that likable.
Carrey
is coming off the performance of his career (Man on the Moon) and once again,
he goes for the gold earning every penny of his paycheck. This is a highly energized,
performance, and very physical as well. Although when he beats himself up, you
can't help but think of other films that featured such creativity more effectively.
There was Steve Martin in All of Me, Edward Norton in Fight Club, and even Bruce
Campbell in the cult classic Evil Dead 2.
Don't
bother paying attention to the nonsensical plot. It involves a bunch of thugs
out to silence a feisty Renee Zellwegger (in an uninspired and under written performance.)
It's all an excuse to let Carrey do his schtick. There is a funny bit involving
Carrey's three African American sons. The Farrellys also throw in some of their
trademark low brow humor for good measure--offtrack urination, unconventional
breast feeding, and a chicken in a compromising position are only a few of the
sight gags that The Farrelly Brothers have in store for you. Unfortunately, Irene
lacks the consistency of their past works.
Most
of all, Me, Myself & Irene seems to be lacking in heart. In a movie like There's
Something about Mary, you want to see Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz get together.
In this film, you really don't care.
Me,Myself,
& Irene isn't without its big laughs. There are certainly laugh out loud moments,
but in the end, there really isn't much of a payoff. Of the Farrelly Brother films,
this one is the least memorable.
