The Mask
Published 2025-07-05
Film info
- Title The Mask
- Director Chuck Russell
- Year 1994
- Run time 1hr 41m
- Genres Fantasy, Romance, Crime, Comedy
- Tagline From zero to hero
- Cast Cameron Diaz
When timid bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss discovers a magical mask containing the spirit of the Norse god Loki, his entire life changes. While wearing the mask, Ipkiss becomes a supernatural playboy exuding charm and confidence which allows him to catch the eye of local nightclub singer Tina Carlyle. Unfortunately, under the mask’s influence, Ipkiss also robs a bank, which angers junior crime lord Dorian Tyrell, whose goons get blamed for the heist.
Live blog
| Time | Comment |
|---|---|
| 3:03 | Introducing Cameron Diaz. Amazing! |
| 7:23 | I totally buy she has the camera in her bag but can it really do the live feed at this point? |
| 15:27 | If ever you think you're having a bad day, watch the start of this film! |
| 23:47 | "I gotta lay off the cartoons." |
| 31:03 | The half of this movie without the mask in is actually okay. |
| 33:24 | Ew, the dog licking his face. |
| 37:08 | I don't understand why no one says 'dude, why's your face green?' |
| 42:10 | Little bit of Strictly in the middle of the film. |
| 46:55 | That dog is forever hanging off a frisbee. |
| 50:28 | "What side of who's bed did you wake up on?" |
| 55:54 | Landfill Park is a terrible name for a park. |
| 1:03:57 | How did she know he was there? |
| 1:08:58 | Appreciate there is plenty to disbelieve in this film but the dog is too smart. |
| 1:22:21 | I wonder what the mask would make me. |
| 1:32:31 | Doyle is fun. |
Thoughts
I've seen this many times before but not for a long time and in the intervening years, I grew negative opinions of it without any real reason why. I thought The Mask character was too zany, too gross, not worth watching. However, this film popped up in conversation on the second series of Light & Magic, so I had to face my demons and give it a watch. Actually, it was a lot better than I remember.
Firstly there wasn't as much Mask-related nonsense as I remembered, and everything outside of the mask was really good. Secondly, the Mask-moments weren't as bad as I thought. Cartoonish and a bit irritating but not off-putting the way I had built it up in my head. I'm glad to have watched it as there are plenty of cultural moments in there that are worth revisiting. I also read that Jim Carrey released this, Ace Ventura and Dumb & Dumber in the same year. That's incredible!
Rating: 3 / 5