The Mask (1994)

	Directed by: Charles Russell	COUNTRY USA GENRE Fantasy/Superhero/ Comedy NORWEGIAN TITLE Masken RUNNING TIME 101 minutes
	Produced by: Bob Engelman
	Written by: Mike Werb

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Stanley Ipkiss / The Mask	Jim Carrey
Tina Carlyle	Cameron Diaz	½
Dorian Tyrell	Peter Greene	½
Charlie Schumaker	Richard Jeni
Lt. Mitch Kellaway	Peter Riegert
Peggy Brandt	Amy Yasbeck
Niko	Orestes Matacena

Review

A simple good/bad dichotomy and an emblematic romance are effectively elevated by the original cartoonish visual effects and up-and-coming star Jim Carrey's brilliant physical comedy in this now semi-cult classic. Much of the build-up and realization of the basic premise, about a bashful man who discovers and then utilizes a magic Norse mask, is derived directly from traditional superhero territory, and so are the title character's two personas, but our masked hero has a spunky and sometimes deliciously absurd vibe to him that makes the film enjoyable for adults while at the same time being fairly suited for kids. The Mask is well-conceived and remarkably well-made, even if it's all very formulaic and not all that imaginative 90% of the time.