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January 15, 2009
The Number 23 (2007)
Should I see it?
No.


Short Review: It’s more like number two.



The first two thirds of this film are passable. The final third is a complete embarrassment. It’s like enjoying a moderately prepared dinner and then topping it off with an apple cobbler that was warmed in the chef’s armpit.

Jim Carrey attempts yet again to “be serious” (see Man on the Moon for another attempt – then again, don’t). This outing, he grumbles his way through a film about a troubled man who becomes obsessed with finding the number 23 in his life. Walter Sparrow (Carrey) is given a book entitled The Number 23 by his wife Agatha (played by Virginia Madsen who is now apparently the one to call on when a production needs a pretty but passive female presence to counter a lead actor over the age of 40). Walter becomes convinced the book was written about him and quickly becomes dangerously obsessed with the work. The beginnings of this obsession are interesting and handled well by director Joel Schumacher and screenwriter Fernley Phillips. Carrey also handles his roles (he also portrays the main character in the book) with some skill. It is when the piece wraps up that everything goes to pot. Carrey’s acting goes into overdrive as he attempts to be as dramatic as possible while the script attempts to sell a completely irrational resolution. Schumacher’s pacing tightens up to heighten the impact of the big reveal, but this backfires. Instead of providing a taut, surprise ending, the hasty pace comes off as someone hurrying through the crappy resolution hoping to mask its stupidity. Many films manage to hide their illogical choices and poor construction until after they're done. This one flaunts theirs.

There is also an issue with a number of very grizzly scenes of murder and death. You see everything. If someone falls from a high place, we see them hit the ground, if someone gets their throat cut we see the slice open up. This lack of imagination on the part of Schumacher is disgusting. We do not need to see a woman’s body slam into the cement after dropping from a third story window. In a time long past, this would have been handled off screen and with reaction shots from those who witnessed the event. By showing us the grim moment of death, along with the thick “thud” is simply bad film making. It is cheap and it is the stuff of hacks.

I see it as yet another instance of Jim Carrey not doing what he was meant to do (make us laugh). He was made to be a goof and these excursions into more serious roles don’t succeed. Carrey is a good actor but his demeanor lends itself to comedy not drama. He’s been misusing his gifts and it’s a shame.


Related Reviews:
Jim Carrey Movies
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
The Mask (1994)


Other Critic's Reviews:
Ill-Informed Gadfly
The Flickering Wall



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posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 9:00 AM




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