Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
There’s very little doubt that Ace Ventura: Pet Detective was the perfect outing to launch Jim Carrey’s new level of stardom. It’s virtually impossible to imagine anyone else bringing so much comedic weight to a role like that. Given the hysterics of the movie, it’s hard to nail down a single scene that tops them all.
The Mask (1994)
Sometimes you can tell that Hollywood has been waiting for the perfect actor to come along for certain roles. Jim Carrey as The Mask is a textbook definition of this. The Mask’s literal rubber face is so believable because of Carrey’s own facial magic. Any scene where Stanley Ipskiss puts on the mystical object has us glued to the screen. Whether it be the Cuban Pete dance number, or his quiet escape from the apartment, every second we see him is a pure delight.
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
1994 was a huge year for Jim Carrey. He finished a year full of hits with Dumb and Dumber. As Lloyd Christmas, Carrey found yet another character perfectly suited for his talents. Combining him with the then dramatic actor Jeff Daniels proved to be a major hit with audiences. The entire dream sequence and the fight within is hilarious.
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995)
It was a foregone conclusion that after the surprise success of the first Ace Ventura movie, a sequel would follow. Sure enough, in 1995 Venutra took his antics all the way to Africa. Although the movie replays many of the gags from the original, that doesn’t take away from the overall hilarity. One of the more comical scenes from this film comes from Ace’s undercover work.
The Cable Guy (1996)
Given the tone of his previous movies, audiences were quite shocked when they saw “The Cable Guy” back in 1996. It’s a movie that was far darker than anything we had seen Jim Carrey in before. Even his take on The Riddler in “Batman Forever” was lighter than Cable Guy’s Chip Douglas. Despite the movie’s bleak tone, it still gave us some memorable laughs.
Liar Liar (1997)
Right in the middle of Jim Carrey’s 1990s run, we got a killer comedy that showcased both his hilarity and dramatic chops. In “Liar Liar”, Carrey plays Fletcher Reede, an underhanded lawyer who mysteriously ends up with the inability to lie. Forcing someone to be overly honest is one thing, but in the hands of Jim Carrey,
Bruce Almighty (2003)
Some of Jim Carrey’s best comedic moments have been working with writer/director Tom Shadyac. From “Ace Ventura”, to “Liar Liar”, it seems these two have an undeniable talent for making people laugh. In Bruce Almighty, Carrey plays a field reporter named Bruce Nolan who’s given all the powers of God. He eventually decides to use his mighty abilities against his colleague, Evan Baxter, played by Steve Carell.
Fun With Dick and Jane(2005)
Have you lost your job? Are you worried about being able to provide for your family? Thinking about turning to a life of crime? Welcome to “Fun with Dick and Jane”. Carrey plays a vice president who loses his job and finds himself struggling to make ends meet. While this 2005 romp isn’t one of Carrey’s most popular films, it still has some fantastic moments.
Yes Man (2008)
“Yes Man” is one of those underrated, somewhat forgotten comedies of the mid-aughts. Jim Carrey plays bank loan officer Carl, a simple guy who’s got a bit of a pessimistic view of the world. After being inspired by a self-help guru to say “yes” to everything, he majorly changes his life. Although the premise doesn’t automatically elevate this movie above his other comedies, there’s a few hidden gems here.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)
While Steve Carell had a relatively minor appearance in “Bruce Almighty” and Carrey carried the film, the reverse was true for “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone”. Carell serves as the main magician while Jim Carrey gives us comedic bits here and there throughout the runtime. One hilarious highlight is when Carrey’s character, Steve Gray, tries to perform an illusion of drilling a hole into his head.
Kick-Ass 2 (2013)
After playing the supervillain known as The Riddler in “Batman Forever”, Carrey suited up to play a pseudo superhero in “Kick-Ass 2”. As Colonel Stars and Stripes, he’s masked up and fitted in full military camo gear. He’s a quieter character than we’re used to, but we still get the odd quip here and there that reminds us who’s behind the mask.
Dumb and Dumber To (2014)
It took two decades, but we finally got a sequel to “Dumb and Dumber”. Lloyd has been in a mental institution ever since the events of the first movie. However, it turns out that it’s been one long practical joke against his best friend Harry. The sequel goes through the usual tropes of seeing these two dumbfounded guys trying to make their way through their latest adventure. But there’s one scene that really stands out.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
The last decade has seen Jim Carrey switch more from hilarious roles to dramatic ones. This left us missing the more over-the-top comedic persona we saw in the 1990s. So when 2020’s “Sonic the Hedgehog” movie came out, we were all happy to see Carrey return to his roots. The role of antagonist Dr. Robotnik was perfectly built for the likes of Jim Carrey.