For pure energy, natural talent and showmanship, Jim Carrey is one of the most thrilling comedy actors of all time. He may not be as universally loved as some - there are some who have always been mildly irritated by his zany facial expressions and high-tempo style - but he has carved out one hell of a career. Having had forgettable roles in numerous 1980s films, 1994 proved to be an unbelievable year for the Canadian. He starred in three hugely successful comedies, becoming arguably the biggest movie star in the world at the time. First up was Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, which he also co-wrote, followed by Dumb And Dumber, one of the greatesy comedies of the last two decades, before finally the incredibly watchable The Mask. Every performance was superb, and Carrey became untouchable for a few years. Batman Forever, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, The Cable Guy and Liar Liar followed, all of which saw Carrey as far and away the best thing about each film, while the superb The Truman Show in 1998 remains arguably the finest performance of his wonderful career to date. It had a mixture of comedy and serious about it, and highlighted just what a talented all-round actor Carrey is. In that respect, also see Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. Me, Myself & Irene, The Grinch, Bruce Almighty, Yes Man followed; the still just goes on and on when it comes to memorable roles. Carrey, like Myers, may not be the superstar he once was, but he still has huge appeal. Dumb And Dumber To's release is imminent, and the hope is that the 52-year-old will have a career resurgence after a quiet few years.
