Special Review: "Son Of The Mask"

Years ago, audiences met a funny little man with a green face and a yellow suit. Jim Carrey, the actor behind that green face, was at the top of his comedy game with "The Mask." After the huge success of the film, there was talk of a sequel. Now, several years later, we finally get our sequel.

"Son Of The Mask" ((PG), 86 mins) stars Jamie Kennedy as Tim Avery, a struggling animator. When Tim's dog Otis finds an ancient wooden mask, Tim puts it on and becomes the life of the party, literally. The mask allows the wearer to act upon his utmost desires and accentuates his personality to the max. Tim ends up impressing his boss and gets his wife (played by Traylor Howard) pregnant while wearing the mask.

The main conflict picks up when Tim's wife is called out of town for work and Tim is forced to take care of the baby. He begins noticing that the baby is different. Otis, who is jealous of the new baby, puts on the mask and comes up with a plan to get rid of the baby. He is caught off guard, though, when the baby fights back with well-conceived strategies. Meanwhile, Loki, a God that made the mask (played by Alan Cumming) comes to Earth to get the mask but discovers it is more difficult than he had thought.

This flick is nothing more than a great big ball of fun. Every once in a while you need something that is out there just to bring a smile to your face. "Son Of The Mask" will do just that. The special effects are astounding, especially those involving Otis who stole the show in the original film. The comedy is goofy and off-the-wall, but it is effective here. We even get a bit of unexpected sweetness between Tim, the baby, and Loki.

A lot of the humor is derived from old Saturday morning cartoons. There are obvious throwbacks to "Michigan J. Frog" and "Woody Woodpecker" and subtle hints at "Slimer" and other favorites. The movie is aware of its roots as it often presents short animated sequences. Perhaps the most effective throwback is to the Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner cartoons as Otis and the baby match superpowered wits.

The movie also offers a bit of social commentary when Tim sits the baby in front of a television showing "The Flintsones." The baby's eyes squint as he says, "Bam... bam..." It is an effective blow at bad parenting and a hilarious gag that will stay with you for well after the end credits roll.

Jamie Kennedy is no Jim Carrey, but he does a good job with his role. Traylor Howard of TV's "Two Guys, A Girl, And A Pizza Place" fame also does great. Finally, Alan Cumming is becoming quite the effective villain in family flicks.

After "The Mask" did well in theatres, a weekly cartoon was made. "Son Of The Mask" is more of a spinoff of that cartoon than a sequel of the original movie. In that sense, it is more family friendly and more colorful. As I left the theatre, I overheard kids saying that they had a wonderful time and couldn't wait to see it again. All of the adults were smiling, too.

It may be a live-action cartoon, but "Son Of The Mask" is a rare treat. It is well-made, reminiscent of the older sight-gag cartoons, and simply just a good time at the movie theatre. No matter your age, you are sure to have lots of fun watching this flick. It will make you smile and touch your heart.