The film told the story of a man named Truman Burbank, who unknowingly spends his entire life in a never-ending reality show. It was a natural step away from the usual comedic roles that he was consistently playing since the ’80s to mid-’90s. The film starred top-notch dramatic actors, including Laura Linney and Ed Harris.
Throughout the film, we watch our hero, Truman Burbank, slowly discover the manufactured world around him and plot his escape. The performance undoubtedly became one of his most acclaimed roles yet, ultimately putting the actor in a new direction.
The King of Physical Comedy
Jim Carrey was now officially in the mainstream and was making his mark with countless memorable roles. Already immortalizing himself as a high-energy, almost cartoon character. Carrey was becoming one of the hottest and most quotable stars in the biz.
More movies such as "The Cable Guy, "Dumb and Dumber" further strengthened his place as the slapstick comedy king. Carrey then blew audiences away as the green-faced "smokin'" Dirty Harry loving character in "The Mask."
Blockbuster Magnet
Evidently, Carrey's career was in no way slowing down, and if the year 1994 were lucky, the next few years would be magical. The actor landed more movie roles throughout the late 90s and 2000s. Some of his most iconic films were "Liar Liar," "Cable Guy," "Batman Forever," and of course, the 1998 film, "The Truman Show."
"The Truman Show" allowed Carrey to showcase his hidden dramatic acting abilities. The unique plot required both immense comedic skill as well as a dramatic touch. This is what truly made Jim Carrey enter a new realm.
A New Decade
The actor proved to have it all: major money-making status and a natural touch for the drama. By the 2000s, the "The Mask" actor nabbed more roles, continuing to diversify in his parts. In 2007, Carrey appeared in both the big-budget comedy "Bruce Almighty" as well as "The Number 23," an intense thriller directed by Joe Schumacher.
While his dramatic capabilities opened up doors, many die-hard comedy fans felt that he was best-suited to the more goofy and adorable roles, which he is most known for. It was also where the money was, alas even with all his acting prowess, Carrey was subject to the cast-type curse.
Landing on the Moon
What better to break the curse than to once again prove everyone wrong. After a string of mega-successful comedies, Carrey picked another film with a slightly different tone. There was no doubt that Carrey could do funny, he could do drama, and he could certainly do strange, so who better than him to portray the legendary comedian Andy Kaufman.
The legendary '70s comic was even famously dubbed "the anti-comic" and made a name for himself as one of the wackiest avant-garde comedians in history. More concerned with confusing his audience than actually making them laugh, Kaufman attracted quite a lot of controversy for his antics. It was a perfect match, and Carrey, who was, of course, a major fan.