# Jim Carrey as a Dramatic Actor **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 5, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-carrey-as-a-dramatic-actor/278227 "2004-12-05T16:58:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-carrey-as-a-dramatic-actor/278227/21 "2004-12-06T15:31:44Z")
> [@ITR champion](#): > > I thought _Eternal Sunshine_ was a terrific movie, but it seems to be almost entirely forgotten now and thus its chances at the Oscars don’t look good. But the role that he really deserved to get an Oscar nom for was _Bruce Almighty_, where he single-handedly turned an awful screenplay into a hilarious movie. Actually, his _Eternal Sunshine_ work isn’t being ignored! Roeper from “Ebert & Roeper” has been pushing and talking about an oscar nom for that performance. I think there’s a likelihood. Plus, it’s a Charlie Kaufman film - which always garners nominations. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-carrey-as-a-dramatic-actor/278227/22 "2004-12-06T16:51:40Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > I think my favorite thing I’ve seen him in was a Saturday Night Live sketch in which Jim Carrey (played by an SNL regular) and some old comedian like Mort Saul (played by Jim Carrey) were interviewed together on a talk show, so that Jim Carrey was sitting next to some guy impersonating him while he impersonated someone else. > > The guy impersonating Carrey was being a total ass, so “Saul” started getting really mad, and to show him up, started impersonating Carrey, at which point “Carrey” started impersonating “Saul.” So you had Jim Carrey impersonating Mort Saul impersonating some other guy’s impersonation of Jim Carrey. > > **And you could absolutely understand what he was doing**. > > It was the funniest, cleverest impersonation I’ve ever seen. > > Daniel If I’m remembering the same bit you are (I think it was The Joe Pesci Show), he was doing an impersonation of Jimmy Stewart doing an impersonation of Jim Carrey. He was fricking _hilarious_ when he was doing that. “I’m Jim Carrey! I need attention 24 hours a day!” Not many people can pull of that sort of self-depreciating humor, IMHO. A bit off topic, but has anyone seen an Adam Sandler movie called [Punch Drunk Love](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0272338/)? His was funny in it, but only because his character was quirky. I thought it was damn good dramatic acting. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-carrey-as-a-dramatic-actor/278227/23 "2004-12-06T19:48:28Z")
> [@LifeOnWry](#): > > Why the heck not? Lots of comedy guys have acting chops > > Carrey’s _In Living Color_ cohort Jamie Foxx is getting Oscar buzz already for his portrayal of Ray Charles. Robin Williams has proven he can carry a dramatic role, and so has Eddie Izzard. Sandler’s getting decent reviews in Spanglish. If I put my mind to it, I could probably come up with loads of “comedians” who can pull off credible drama. Dick van Dyke. Leslie Nielsen. Don Rickles. Mary Tyler Moore. John Ritter. Alan Alda. Lucille Ball. The list goes on… ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-carrey-as-a-dramatic-actor/278227/24 "2004-12-06T20:12:15Z")
He’s coming around. It’s going to be a few years. Robin Williams had the same problem. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-carrey-as-a-dramatic-actor/278227/25 "2004-12-06T20:24:02Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > If I’m remembering the same bit you are (I think it was The Joe Pesci Show), he was doing an impersonation of Jimmy Stewart doing an impersonation of Jim Carrey. He was fricking _hilarious_ when he was doing that. > > “I’m Jim Carrey! I need attention 24 hours a day!” > > Not many people can pull of that sort of self-depreciating humor, IMHO. I’m a huge fan of Carrey’s. Dramatic and comedic. But his appearance on SNL was a high point. It was indeed the Joe Pesci show - Carrey doing his spot-on Stewart impression, and Mark McKinney (Former Kid in the Hall) as Carrey. McKinney did Carrey doing Stewart, then Carrey did Stewart doing Carrey. The best part, however, was the ending - as was usual for the Joe Pesci skits, Jim Brewer pulls out a bat and begins to beat on the guests, but Carrey (as Stewart) catches the bat, and turns the beating around. “That’s a nice bat, son. I wonder what it would look like shoved up your ass!” ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-carrey-as-a-dramatic-actor/278227/26 "2004-12-06T22:37:18Z")
I had my reservations about Carrey, but \*Eternal Sunshine \* managed to turn some of them around. Maybe he actually can hold back the mugging a bit. You know…act and all. I was kind of dreading \*Lemony Snicket \* until I saw _Sunshine_, but I’m wary of being burned. He does have potential though. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-carrey-as-a-dramatic-actor/278227/27 "2004-12-07T01:39:19Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > By the same token, I can not stand Ben Stiller’s comedic performances, but I couldn’t imagine saying he has no dramatic ability whatsoever, because I have never seen him do anything in that realm. The only one I can think of was his role as Chas, the oldest son, in **The Royal Tenenbaums**. He wasn’t bad. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-carrey-as-a-dramatic-actor/278227/28 "2004-12-07T01:59:07Z")
> [@Duderdude2](#): > > I would almost think that these roles would be even more difficult (if not, at least on par) than the standard Oscar type roles, but as I’m not an actor, I don’t know for certain. Many actors say comedy (especially physical comedy) is a lot harder to do than drama. I can believe it. In a dramatic role, you can just pile on the pathos. The right makeup job can elicit the right reaction in drama. Comedy requires you to actually work on your timing and delivery, instead of letting the writing and “atmosphere” save you. I like all of Jim Carrey’s dramas, and definitely think he deserves an Oscar for Eternal Sunshine. Well actually I think he deserved an Oscar for The Truman Show too. I do think it’s very unfair that the Academy basically shuts out any comedies from the running, as well as comedic actors, as if it takes no talent to act in a comedy. Then again, I don’t really like Carrey’s comedies, even if I can concede that he’s a talented physical comedian. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-carrey-as-a-dramatic-actor/278227/29 "2004-12-07T02:36:24Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > “That’s a nice bat, son. I wonder what it would look like shoved up your ass!” While beating Breuer: “Every time a Guido screams, an angels gets his wings!” Regarding McKinney (doing his impression of Carrey): “This guy mugs so much, he should have a handle on the side of his head!” Easily the best “Joe Pesci Show” sketch. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-carrey-as-a-dramatic-actor/278227/30 "2004-12-07T03:59:41Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m a huge fan of Carrey’s. Dramatic and comedic. But his appearance on SNL was a high point. And let’s not forget “Jimmy Tango’s Fat Busters”! RIDE THE SNAKE ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-carrey-as-a-dramatic-actor/278227/31 "2004-12-07T07:28:26Z")
And let’s not forget Carrey’s brilliant performance as the Masturbating Bear. Woo! ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-carrey-as-a-dramatic-actor/278227/32 "2004-12-07T09:45:08Z")
Besides being hilarious, I also found that SNL skit fascinating because it was all about Carrey’s respect and admiration for Jimmy Stewart. The man is obviously a huge fan, and I think it’s apparent in his dramatic work. I’m not saying that Jim Carrey is the “next James Stewart”; I suspect, though, that he really, really wants to be. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-carrey-as-a-dramatic-actor/278227/33 "2004-12-07T13:45:08Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > And let’s not forget “Jimmy Tango’s Fat Busters”! > > RIDE THE SNAKE “Thanks to your program, Jimmy, not only did I lose a hundred pounds, I discovered that I am the DEVIL!” * * * “Talk is cheap. SCAN ME!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-carrey-as-a-dramatic-actor/278227.md?page=1)