Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler need to return to the kind of movies that got them famous

[hapgilmore]

I don't know how anyone else feels, but I am sick and tired of these watered down "comedies" that Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler seem to keep churning out. The last actual good comedy that Carrey made was Me, Myself, & Irene back in 2000. Since then, he has only made mainstream, sentimental crap like Bruce Almighty and Fun with Dick and Jane, or kids movies like The Grinch and Lemony Snicket (Eternal Sunshine, of course, fits in neither of those categories, and while it is a good movie, any respectable actor could have played that part). For Sandler, I would say his last good comedy was Little Nicky (maybe Anger Management but that was only funny because of Jack Nicholson, not Sandler's lethargic performance). Like Carrey, he then proceeded to make nothing but generic, sentimental and/or unfunny comedies and dramas like Mr. Deeds, Spanglish, Longest Yard, 8 Crazy Nights etc... I want to see Carrey make more movies like Ace Ventura and Dumb and Dumber, and Sandler make more like Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore. I know the argument is that both actors want to do more "serious" work, but in my opinion that is bullshit. They need to stop selling out and return to the kinds of comedies that made them who they are today. As a former big fan of both, I am very disappointed.

[Tracer Bullet]

I'm sure they find your disapproval very upsetting on a deeply personal level.

[raven56706]

sorry but i thought Little Nicky sucked big fat ones.......

[Jackskeleton]

Yeah, forget ever expanding as an actor and going into different roles. Lets just stick with being typecasted forever.

Carrey's Fun with Dick and Jane showed that you could make Mike's hard lemonade out of lemons. It had terrible word of mouth going into it and a bloated budget and somehow did well for itself.

I want to see Carrey make more movies like Ace Ventura and Dumb and Dumber, and Sandler make more like Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore.

Ugh, that would be annoying. Adam Sandler has pretty much played Billy Madison in every movie anyways. You just want stupid comedies

I know the argument is that both actors want to do more "serious" work, but in my opinion that is bullshit.

Wow, pretty interesting opinion there. Any reason you have to justify it? I mean, is it a good career choice for either actor?

They need to stop selling out and return to the kinds of comedies that made them who they are today.

Wait.. what? Wouldn't they be "selling out" if they were playing the same roles to applease you? The word "sell out" doesn't belong here at all as by the very nature of acting, a person sells themself.

[Holysmoker]

I would argue that 8 crazy nights and Mr. Deeds were identical to Happy Gilmore in their formula. No big change or sell out there. But, I like when an actor steps out of his usual role type. I really liked Spanglish. Carrey was excellent in Eternal Sunshine. Replacing him with any actor is irrelevant. He was the reason I went to see that movie.

[coli]

Jim Carrey has never been the same since The Cable Guy. That didn't do well at the box office cause people were not expecting him to be a bad guy, and it was a very black satirical comedy in most parts of the movie.

But I love the movie, Jim Carrey had some balls in it, he didn't play it safe like Liar Liar and Bruce Almighty. Those are good movies, but not edgy, and it is more of a feelgood family movie. I believe Jim Carrey didn't like the criticism by fans that he was a jerk in the movie, but he was hysterical playing that part.

Jim Carrey's only great comedies:

Ace Ventura (1994)
Dumb & Dumber (1994)
The Cable Guy (1996)

When the guy is on, he is the funniest physical comedian alive.

[raven56706]

But he also did a great job in Truman Show and Man on the Moon.... he deserved oscar nominations for either(especially MOTM)

Sandler will never be serious.... Punch Drunk Love was just weird

I dont know... i would like to see them back in comedies like the old days but its different now

[DRG]

I do to a degree agree with you. I they both excelled as characters who were either obnoxious or stupid (or both). Both of them had their funniest (IMO) movies in that era. I agree with coli that Cable Guy was probably the last straw for Carrey (as Little Nicky was for Sandler). The sting of those flops (in terms of mainstream audiences) does seem to have led them down paths of taking less risky material. Honestly, I thought Punch Drunk Love was closer to the spirit of the old Sandler movies than any of his recent 'Happy Madison' productions, even if it was the arthouse twist on it.

[Legolas]

I've never seen a pro-typecasting thread before.

[Draven]

I've never thought Sandler was worth anything, so I couldn't care less about the career choices he makes.

But Carrey...I think "Me Myself and Irene" is a stinking pile of shit, actually. One of the worst "comedies" I've ever seen. And "Dumb and Dumber" is one of my favorite comedies of all time, so it's not like I don't "get" it.

However, I like "Liar Liar" and "Bruce Almighty," as well as his turns in "Eternal Sunshine" and "The Truman Show." I actually liked "Lemony Snicket's" as well, made me want to go read the books.

As long as he keeps up a mix of comedy and dramedy type stuff, I'll be there to see it.

[NatrlBornThrllr]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with an actor attempting to branch out. No actor wants to be typecasted. You want to see Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler stick to what made them famous? Okay. Did you also want to see Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal stick to what made them famous? Well, they did...and look at how well that worked out for `em.

While I appreciated Jim Carrey for his goofy comedy in The Mask, Ace Ventura, and Dumb and Dumber...I can also appreciate (to a greater extent, actually) what he did to turn his career in a different direction with movies like The Truman Show, Man on the Moon, The Majestic, and Eternal Sunshine. Even though it's a Schumacher picture, I'll probably still end up seeing "The Number 23" simply to see how he does in a thriller. I appreciate an actor who branches out far more than one that is comfortable being typecasted. If anything, I'd say the latter is a "sell-out," not the former.

-JP

[Joe Molotov]

I think Jim Carrey has made some very good career choices, with stuff like The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. There's only so many times you do the same old schtick before people get tired of it, and if you try to do it a few too many times, then you may end up toasting your career. Just look at Pauly Shore and Tom Green.

[hapgilmore]

I would argue that 8 crazy nights and Mr. Deeds were identical to Happy Gilmore in their formula. No big change or sell out there. But, I like when an actor steps out of his usual role type. I really liked Spanglish. Carrey was excellent in Eternal Sunshine. Replacing him with any actor is irrelevant. He was the reason I went to see that movie.
They may have been close in formula, but the BIG difference is that Happy Gilmore is a comedy classic and those other two suck.

[hapgilmore]

Jim Carrey has never been the same since The Cable Guy. That didn't do well at the box office cause people were not expecting him to be a bad guy, and it was a very black satirical comedy in most parts of the movie.

But I love the movie, Jim Carrey had some balls in it, he didn't play it safe like Liar Liar and Bruce Almighty. Those are good movies, but not edgy, and it is more of a feelgood family movie. I believe Jim Carrey didn't like the criticism by fans that he was a jerk in the movie, but he was hysterical playing that part.

Jim Carrey's only great comedies:

Ace Ventura (1994)
Dumb & Dumber (1994)
The Cable Guy (1996)

When the guy is on, he is the funniest physical comedian alive.
I agree entirely, but I think Me, Myself, & Irene is only a couple steps behind.

[hapgilmore]

Wait.. what? Wouldn't they be "selling out" if they were playing the same roles to applease you? The word "sell out" doesn't belong here at all as by the very nature of acting, a person sells themself.
Selling out is making generic, mainstream movies like Bruce Almighty and Fun with Dick and Jane. Both are "safe" family films and take no risks. It is a shame in my opinion that both actors have so much talent but don't do what they are naturally good at. Don't get me wrong. I think Truman Show is a great movie, but Man on the Moon and The Majestic both sucked. I'm not saying Carrey and Sandler should ONLY make silly comedies, but let's face it, it is what they're best at.

[NatrlBornThrllr]

but Man on the Moon (...) sucked.

:hscratch:

[onebyone]

Except for "The Majestic," I can find something to enjoy in all of Jim's movies because.... he's in them. That's really all I need. I can't help it, I like to watch him in movies. I personally think he makes good decisions with his career. He gives the masses what they want sometimes and then also takes some chances with movies like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," which I just adored. You could do far worse than his career.

As for Adam, well, I just wish he did more movies with Drew Barrymore. That's all I got.

[Puzznic]

I think it has alot to do with them getting older. It would just be wierd to see a middle aged man acting like Billy Madison? I think Jim Carrey does a good combination of comedic and dramatic roles. His new comedies might not be as good as Dumb and Dumber but what modern comedy is?

[Duder]

I'm not saying Carrey and Sandler should ONLY make silly comedies, but let's face it, it is what they're best at.
I'd face it if I agreed. I think the praise you have for early Carrey is ironic, because The Cable Guy was the first movie I saw where I thought to myself, "Whoa, Carrey can actually act, and he ought to get some serious roles." The fact that Carrey has been considered by many critics to be Oscar-worthy in both Man on the Moon and Eternal Sunshine further tears apart your argument that the man is little more than a comedic machine.

As for Sandler, I still don't think we've seen him in a great dramatic role, so it's hard to say; Punch Drunk Love is the closest we've gotten, and I did think he was quite good in that, so I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I don't mean this to be personally insulting or anything, but moviegoers like you are part of the reason that actors get typecast and Hollywood keeps churning out the same movie year after year. I for one am glad that neither Carrey nor Sandler has continued to make the same movies (though Sandler's change is not as drastic).

[awmurray]

I know the argument is that both actors want to do more "serious" work, but in my opinion that is bullshit. They need to stop selling out and return to the kinds of comedies that made them who they are today. As a former big fan of both, I am very disappointed.


I agree 100%. I've been saying this for years now, particularly about Carrey (less about Sandler). Jim Carrey is too interested in being a Tom Hanks. He's trying to make the transition from comedy to drama to get an Oscar. I believe he said so at point (I think I read it).

What a pathetic loooser! No offense.

[fumanstan]

I love Carrey's serious work, but i'd certainly love to see him go and do another edgy comedy rather then his recent comedy work.

[Jackskeleton]

Selling out is making generic, mainstream movies like Bruce Almighty and Fun with Dick and Jane. Both are "safe" family films and take no risks. It is a shame in my opinion that both actors have so much talent but don't do what they are naturally good at. Don't get me wrong. I think Truman Show is a great movie, but Man on the Moon and The Majestic both sucked. I'm not saying Carrey and Sandler should ONLY make silly comedies, but let's face it, it is what they're best at.


But with your logic, they would be doing "Safe" movies if they stick to their typecasted roles because hey, if you want to see a comedy with sandler, it should all be like waterboy, happy gilmore, etc to be funny. So in your own definition of the word, you want them to sell out.

[calhoun07]

Sandler will never be serious....


Spanglish was his most hilarious role to date.

[Jackskeleton]

And even though I hated it. Punch Drunk Love had him playing it straight.

[PopcornTreeCt]

Punch Drunk Love is 10x better than anything "serious" Jim Carrey has done. I think Jim Carrey should just stick to doing off the wall comedies because even in his serious movies he still falls back on his same ol comedy schtick he does every once in awhile.

[GameGenie]

There getting old and i respect them because they both pull off serious roles well. Adam Sandler was great in punch drunk love and Jim Carey was great in eternal sunshine.

[riley_dude]

You mean the ones where they act like complete idiots ???
Gee, I can't wait.

[mndtrp]

I'm glad they're branching out. I've got their earlier works, and I'll watch them if that's the type of movie I'm interested in. Adam Sandler movies were using the same formula longer than Carrey's, and they were starting to fail because of it. Little Nicky was terrible.

The Cable Guy is still my favorite out of all movies either have done.

[Suprmallet]

I can see the argument against Sandler. He's only done two serious roles (Punch Drunk Love and Spanglish), and the rest have been comedies. But the difference is that his older comedies actually had an edge to them, whereas his new ones are generic and boring. I mean, his next film is about a man with a remote control that can control the universe, and is called "Click." Seriously. "Click." I loved his work in Punch Drunk Love, and hope he does more like that. But not "Click."

As for Jim Carrey, the OP could not be more off the mark. He has done some amazing work both as a comedian and a serious actor. And I don't think any halfway decent actor could have pulled off what he did in Eternal Sunshine. He made that role what it was. Even stuff like Bruce Almighty and Liar Liar were good fun. I see no problem with it. Fun With Dick and Jane looked pretty terrible, but not as bad as "Click."

By the way, Mr. Deeds had one amazing running joke in it: John Turturro's character. He had me rolling.

[FinkPish]

A normal guy is suddenly given the power to control the universe and gets himself into more trouble than he can handle. Which movie am I describing, Click or Bruce Almighty?

I don't see what kind of edge all these early comedies from these two guys had; Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, Ace Ventura and Dumb & Dumber were just silly movies, in a good way. I didn't detect any discernable "edge" to them, other than the gross out comedy bits. And at some point, they have to outgrow that sort of silliness, otherwise they end up being like a live-action version of a shock jock. And for the record, I thought Fun with Dick & Jane looked terrible based on the trailers too, until I saw it in the theater and it turned out to be pretty good.

[bsktballDude1]

I think Carrey should do more movies like Eternal Sunshine and Truman Show, not that I dislike his Dumb and Dumber and Liar, Liar stuff mind you. It's just that he is a terrific actor, and really excels in movies like ESotSM.

[jiggawhat]

Jim Carrey will never win an Oscar so I don't know why that guy keeps trying. He should just end his drama career and do exactly what the OP says.

Adam Sandler, however, does mostly comedies rather than serious roles. I would love to see a sequel to Happy Gilmore though which probably will never happen.

[FinkPish]

Jim Carrey will never win an Oscar so I don't know why that guy keeps trying. He should just end his drama career and do exactly what the OP says.
That has to be the most ridiculous reasoning I've ever heard. Do you think he really switched over to doing dramatic roles just to win an Oscar? Does that mean, if he does get one someday, he can go back to doing more Ace Ventura sequels, because he got what he left comedies for? -ohbfrank-

[maingon]

i liked Adam Sandlers latest few movies quite a bit, Spanglish and Punch Drunk love were great movies and I thought sandler did a perfect job in them. I also thought 50 first dates was one of sandlers funniest movies.

[NatrlBornThrllr]

Jim Carrey will never win an Oscar so I don't know why that guy keeps trying. He should just end his drama career and do exactly what the OP says.

Jigga what?

Not everybody who takes a dramatic role is trying to win an Academy Award. Not to mention...who says that he'll never win one? If he's capable of turning in performances like the one he gave in Man on the Moon, I don't see why he wouldn't someday have a shot, given the right role and circumstances.

If you're saying that he won't have a shot because he was formerly known as a comedic actor...well, you might have a point. However, a lot of actors have broken free from typecasted careers. Paul Giamatti and Terrence Howard spent the first half of their careers as character actors in bit roles. Both names came up in Oscar talks for roles in Sideways and Hustle & Flow, respectively. Jamie Foxx went from comedic to Oscar winner in Ray. Dicaprio went from teenage heartthrob to Oscar nominee with What's Eating Gilbert Grape...back to heartthrob with Titanic, and then back to Oscar nominee with Aviator. Even the fucking Fresh Prince got a nomination for Ali.

The Academy isn't exactly equal opportunity with their selections, but they rarely ignore amazing performances simply because an actor had previously been typecasted as a less than stellar dramatic performer. To say that Carrey should go back to the same old schtick, and that his career would be better because of it, is ludicrous. Look at Pauly Shore. To paraphrase Kevin Smith; for the longest time, everybody was all, "Hey budddyyy. The weeaassel!!" Then one day everybody just decided, "FUCK Pauly Shore. Fuck him in his ass." The last thing Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, or any other actor needs to do is stick to the same schtick for their entire career. Ask Steven Seagal.

-JP

[Suprmallet]

A normal guy is suddenly given the power to control the universe and gets himself into more trouble than he can handle. Which movie am I describing, Click or Bruce Almighty?

There's a difference between Jim Carrey given the power to be God (which, given Carrey's comedic style, is inherently funny), and Adam Sandler being given a big remote. Big difference. Specifically, the former has the potential for humor, while the latter does not.

[FinkPish]

There's a difference between Jim Carrey given the power to be God (which, given Carrey's comedic style, is inherently funny), and Adam Sandler being given a big remote. Big difference. Specifically, the former has the potential for humor, while the latter does not.
I agree, but that is also a personal preference. It ain't fact.

[Suprmallet]

There's a difference? ;)

[FRwL]

Ask Steven Seagal.


Even he came to a realization and branched into comedy with that one soda commercial. He should do more of those roles!

[NatrlBornThrllr]

:lol:

[awmurray]

I still think he's trying to do more serious roles in order to have the possiblity of winning an Oscar. I think all of us that think like the OP are just saying we'd like to see him 'get back to his roots' is all. We enjoy him that way. But Carrey won't win an Oscar doing comedy.

Jim Carrey interview from Total DVD Online (http://www.totaldvd.net/features/interviews/200108JimCarrey.php):


So are you saying to yourself 'I want to win an Oscar now...'?

JC: I don't have the audacity. Yeah, I'd like to do that, absolutely. I'd love to be recognised by my peers. But I also understand that it's hard for some of the elder statesmen of the Academy to accept the fact that the guy who makes faces is suddenly a serious actor. And that may take some time. I am a serious actor, I was a serious actor when I was talking through my arse, because that's what that movie needed.

There seems to be more recognition for doing drama...

JC: There's definitely more respect within intellectual circles, that's for sure. I'm not an intellectual, but I've read a few good books.

[ShagMan]

Hmm, I'd have to digagree with the title topic, I think these guys are good in semi-good, well written roles. Carrey in The Truman Show and Sandler in 50 First Dates.