This article is about the film. For the song by The Castaways, see Liar, Liar (song)
Liar Liar is a 1997 American comedy film written by Paul Guay and Stephen Mazur, directed by Tom Shadyac and starring Jim Carrey. Carrey was nominated for a Golden Globe Award (1998) for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical. The film is the second of three collaborations between Jim Carrey and Tom Shadyac, the first being Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and the third being Bruce Almighty, and the second of three collaborations between Paul Guay and Stephen Mazur, the first being The Little Rascals and the third being Heartbreakers. It was shot entirely in California.
Plot synopsis
Fletcher Reede (Jim Carrey) is a particularly career-focused lawyer and divorced father. He has a habit of giving precedence to his job, breaking promises to his young son Max, and then lying to both Max (Justin Cooper) and his ex-wife Audrey (Maura Tierney) about the real reason for having done so. Ultimately, Fletcher misses his son's birthday party because he is having sex with his boss Miranda (Amanda Donohoe), and Max wishes while blowing out his cake candles that his father be unable to lie for an entire day, a wish that immediately becomes true.
Fletcher soon discovers, through a series of embarrassing incidents - such as when he tells Miranda that he has "had better" just after having sex with her -, that he is unable to lie or even withhold a true answer. These incidents are inconvenient, as he is fighting a divorce case in court which, should he win, could be a huge boost to his career. His client is Samantha Cole (Jennifer Tilly). His main witness is willing to commit perjury to win, but Fletcher discovers that he cannot even ask a question if he knows the answer will be a lie; during the case he even objects to himself when he tries to lie to get the desired information. Meanwhile, Audrey is threatening to move to Boston with her new boyfriend Jerry (Cary Elwes) and to take Max with them.
Over the course of the film, Fletcher recognizes his son Max as his highest priority and struggles to keep him. He manages to win the case truthfully by using a loophole in the law (namely that his client had lied about her age and was 17 when she signed the prenuptial agreement, hence meaning that she was legally unable to enter into such an agreement and thus rendering the pre-nup invalid), with the repercussions being a major catalyst to his understanding of what he is likely to lose. When he sees the results of winning the case (the mother of the children will fight for custody also and literally pulls them out of their father's arms), he shouts at the judge (Jason Bernard) and is put into jail for contempt of court. Audrey refuses to pay his bail, which is eventually paid by his secretary Greta (Anne Haney), who forgives him after hearing he stood up to the Judge about the case.
Near the end, Fletcher hijacks a stair escalator at the airport to stop Max's plane from taking off. He ends up stopping it abruptly and is injured. He vows to his son to spend more time with him. Even though the 24th truth hour is up, Max knows he means it. One year later, Audrey, who is no longer dating Jerry, and Fletcher are celebrating Max's birthday. The lights go off when Max blows out his birthday candles. When they go back on Fletcher and Audrey are kissing. Fletcher asks Max if he wished for his mom and his dad to get back together and Max replies "No, I wished for roller blades!", the family subsequently seemingly returning to a normal dynamic as Fletcher chases Audrey and Max around the house with "the Claw" (A game he and Max play where his hand allegedly becomes a "Claw" that attacks Max).
Cast
- Fletcher Reede - Jim Carrey
- Audrey Reede - Maura Tierney
- Max Reede - Justin Cooper
- Jerry - Cary Elwes
- Samantha Cole - Jennifer Tilly
- Miranda - Amanda Donohoe
- Dana Appleton - Swoosie Kurtz
- Judge Marshall Stevens - Jason Bernard
- Greta - Anne Haney
- Mr. Allan - Mitchell Ryan
- Kenneth Falk - Christopher Mayer
- Sexy Elevator Girl - Krista Allen
- Skull - Randall "Tex" Cobb
- Sharpo the Clown - Eric Sharp
- Courthouse Beggar - Don Keefer
Reception
The film received mostly positive reviews from critics with a "Fresh" score of 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, a "Fresh" score of 85% of the Cream Of The Crop from major news outlets, and a "Fresh" score of 81% from the users. Critic Roger Ebert stated, "I am gradually developing a suspicion, or perhaps it is a fear, that Jim Carrey is growing on me".[1] Roger Ebert previously had given bad reviews of Carrey films like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Dumb and Dumber.
Box Office Performance
The film did well at the box office: the opening weekend made $31,423,025 in 2,845 theaters. Domestically the film made $181,410,615, and at the foreign box office it made $121,300,000 - altogether the film made $302,710,615.
Soundtrack
John Debney's work on the film's soundtrack has become a cult favorite in underground music and among indie music groups. Most notably, Brandon Flowers of the rock band The Killers is rumored to be a big fan of Debney's work on the soundtrack.
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A birthday wish comes true.
Good for some chuckles and not as stupid as most Jim Carrey vehicles.
Michael O'Keefe from Muskogee OK - 25 June 2009Fletcher Reede(Carrey)is a confident, successful lawyer, who has one
major fault. His relationship with his son Max(Justin Cooper)is not so
successful. He breaks most of the promises he makes to Max…so in his
son's eyes the cheerful attorney is nothing but a liar, liar with a
capital "L". When Fletcher promises to be at Max's 5th birthday party
and ends up a no-show…Max blows out the candles and wishes that his
father wouldn't be able to tell a lie for 24 hours. The wish comes true
and Fletcher finds his next day at work pretty difficult and extremely
embarrassing. Most of the real funny stuff can be seen in the trailer.The cast also includes: Maura Tierney, Jennifer Tilly, Jason Bernard
and Swoozie Kurtz.
funny
Jim Carey is at his best here. In this hilarious film, he is a lying
skysight111 from United States - 15 May 2009lawyer who is suddenly forced to tell the truth. A funny premies and
Jim Carey pull is off with great energy. If they could only give a
award for funny faces and brilliant physical humor, he would win it. We
all know that lawyers are not that trustworthy and all dislike people
that commit adultery (the main character does both a great deal). But
yet we are rooting for him to get thru the legal mess he is in as well
as make his little boy proud and win back the love of his ex-wife. I
found myself laughing throughout the entire film from the beginning to
the end. Great casting job with the supporting actors … everyone here
was amazing. My favorite scene was when the main character (Carey)
actually beats himself up in the bathroom of the courthouse just to
excuse himself from a case in which he must lie to win it. Great stuff.
If you are looking to laugh, check this out. It's a great comedy.
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