Movie Reviews

Me Myself and Irene

22 Jun 2000

Isn't Renee Zellweger wonderful? Not only is she cute, but whatever the quality of her material, she never gives a bad performance.

I just thought I'd start the review with Renee, because in Me, Myself & Irene, she is Jim Carrey's co-star. As such, she is hopelessly upstaged by his frenetic slapstick, facial contortions and over-the-top delivery. Undoubtedly a major talent, Carrey will fill any screen, often on the verge of wearing out his welcome.

After a short distraction into non-hysterical acting (The Truman Show and Man on the Moon), he's back to his trademark broad comedy. After all, Me, Myself & Irene (don't confuse it with Me Myself I, starring the equally gifted - but more restrained - Rachel Griffiths) is written and directed by the Peter and Bobby Farrelly, the same guys who popularised using bodily fluids as hair gel. Carrey, who last worked with them six years ago, is ideally suited to their gross-out merriment.

This time he plays Charlie, a Rhode Island trooper whose wife leaves him for her lover. Charlie reacts by suppressing his anger, becoming a wonderful father and a truly ineffectual cop. Finally, with the townsfolk continually taking advantage of him, he unleashes another personality: an obnoxious, sleazy, tough guy, who gives them what they deserve.

After unwittingly getting involved with criminals, Charlie and Irene (Zellweger) roam the countryside, pursued by crooked cops. It sounds like a typical Hollywood comedy, but remember that it's a Farrelly movie, where friends are revealed as deranged killers, indestructible animals are viciously harmed, and people are knocked out with marital aids. This is all to disguise the fact that it is really a cuddly, feelgood comedy, in which the heroes (one of whom is very cute) will live happily ever after.

Ironically, the funniest gags in this uneven comedy are among those that DON'T intend to make you cringe. Thanks to efforts of the Farrelly Brothers and their imitators, shock humour has lost its shock value. When I saw this film, even the mainly teenage audience wasn't laughing quite so loudly.

Still, it has its moments. Besides, did I mention that Renee Zellweger is really cute?