Jim Carrey has been polarizing ever since bursting into the spotlight in the '90s. Gaining notoriety for his wacky and over-the-top performances in comedies like Dumb and Dumber and Ace Venture: Pet Detective, people grow to either love or hate the actor. This dichotomy is in large part due to how controversial his characters behave. Especially how it's perceived in times of change.
The actor has chosen to stay further away from the spotlight as he's continued on with his acting career, but his legacy lives on as new generations begin to view his films for the first time.
There’s a saying that with the changing of times comes the changing of minds, and in some instances, those changes are not so favorable to the decisions made in the past. Some of Jim Carrey’s most beloved movies, for instance, may not be as simple and carefree as they seem when looked at through the lens of current-day cultural norms. Let’s take a look at how some of Jim’s lionized films would sadly get him in trouble today.
7 Is Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Transphobic?
It’s hard to believe that a movie as beloved as Ace Ventura would land Jim Carrey in hot water. But looking back at it, the film had some pretty chaotic undertones. At the end of the movie, Jim’s character is not only celebrated for outing the villain as a trans woman, but he and all the male actors who shared kisses with the trans character become disgusted at the thought of kissing a man. We’re then shown a scene of the men spitting and cleaning their mouths out, in front of the aforementioned newly outed trans woman!
Considering how far we’ve come in acknowledging the rights of the transgender community, it seems that the movie’s plot points are beyond outdated and disrespectful. Jim’s inclusion in it would sadly be considered a cancelable offense today.
6 Liar, Liar Could Be Interpreted As Misogynistic
When re-watching 1997’s Liar Liar, it’s hard not to ignore some overtly sexist writing. While the movie is of course a comedy, it takes certain liberties to ensure the women are extra ditzier, bustier, and less likely to have anything to say at all.
Maybe the actor's tendency to pick roles that were degrading to women had something to do with the dark relationship he had with his mother growing up. Regardless of the reasoning behind it, the movie definitely wouldn’t stand the tests of time had the movie been looking to get released in 2022.
5 The Cable Guy Pokes Fun At Men’s Mental Health Struggles
This dark comedy has been picked on by critics as not having done enough for depressed or mentally at-risk audiences. Jim’s character is often lonely and distraught, playing off his emotions. While Matthew Broderick’s character helps add some humor to the situation, there’s no clear acknowledgment of the importance of taking care of one’s mental health. Jim has even spoken candidly about the dark reasons he does comedy, so critics of the movie were surprised about the levity the actor had surrounding their interest in the matter.
Considering how much mental health affects men, critics in 2022 feel the movie could have done more to encourage conversation around exploring mental health tools.
4 The Mask Only Sees Women As Objects
How could a movie as iconic as The Mask face the wrath of cancelation? Well, critics of the film say there’s a case to be made about how s*xist the film is. Cameron Diaz’s role doesn’t add any substance to the film, acting as eye candy to Jim’s character for the entirety of the film. That plus the excessive use of gun violence in the film doesn’t lend it much grace with eagle-eye viewers in 2022.
3 Dumb And Dumber Didn't Help Women Look Great Either
The meaning behind another huge 1994 box office win for Jim could be misconstrued when viewing the movie in 2022. Dumb and Dumber follows two, for lack of a better word, dumb best friends.
While the movie has become a cult classic to some, others feel the movie lacks any positives. Critics that feel while the movie is filled with stupid plot points and bad writing, the real problems stem from the movie being riddled with misogyny and overtly r*cist undertones at times.
2 Bruce Almighty Is On This Country's List Of Banned Films
Out of all the entries on the list, Bruce Almighty has gotten Jim Carrey into the most trouble. The movie which features Jim playing a Television News Reporter who gets the chance to act as God for the week was banned in Egypt for “impinging on God’s sacredness.” There are plenty of other aspects one could find to be critical of in the film, but God forbid. See what I did there?
1 Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls Has Some Pretty Controvertial Moments
While Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls leaves the transphobia behind, it brings questions of racism with its vapid and inaccurate depiction of an African tribe. From trying to talk to the tribe by flappy his butt-cheeks, to constantly drooling over the bare-chested women in the tribe, it’s hard to find any redeeming qualities when re-watching this film in 2022. At least, in the eyes of some.
