Liar Liar (1997)
82%RT Audience Score: 75%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 6 nominations
Despite its thin plot, Liar Liar is elevated by Jim Carrey’s exuberant brand of physical humor, and the result is a laugh riot that helped to broaden the comedian’s appeal
If you’re looking for a movie that will make you laugh until your sides hurt, then Liar Liar is the perfect choice. Jim Carrey is at his best, playing a lawyer who can’t tell a lie, and the results are hilarious. Sure, the plot is a bit thin, but who cares when you’re having this much fun? From the physical comedy to the witty one-liners, this movie has it all. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and get ready to laugh your way through Liar Liar.
Production Company(ies)
Mass Distraction Media, Radical Media, Vulcan Productions,
Distributor
MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Universal Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles City Hall – 200 North Spring Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for sex related humor and language
Year of Release
1997
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:DTS-Stereo DTS
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 27m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 21, 1997 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2003
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney, Jennifer Tilly, Swoosie Kurtz, Amanda Donohoe, Jason Bernard, Justin Cooper, directed by Tom Shadyac, written by Paul Guay, Stephen Mazur, comedy, PG-13, box office performance, $181.4M, reviewed by Paul Tatara, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Duane Byrge, Owen Gleiberman, Todd McCarthy, Geoff Andrew, Wayne Broadway, Matt Brunson, David Nusair, Rachel Wagner, Mike Massie, Jim Carrey’s exuberant brand of physical humor, lawyer, court case, father-son relationship, truth, lies, commitment, dishonesty, devotion, relationships, divorce, birthday wish, implausible, funny, sweet, over-the-top, hysteria, unforgettable performance, hilarious situations, laugh riot, broaden comedian’s appeal, thin plot, critic reviews, audience score, Tomatometer
Worldwide gross: $302,710,615
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $564,277,064
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 248
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 61,535,121
US/Canada gross: $181,410,615
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $338,164,055
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 158
US/Canada opening weekend: $31,423,025
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $58,575,060
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 185
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $45,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $83,883,639
Production budget ranking: 500
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $45,171,339
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $435,222,086
ROI to date (est.): 337%
ROI ranking: 411
Maura Tierney – Audrey Reede
Jennifer Tilly – Samantha Cole
Swoosie Kurtz – Dana Appleton
Amanda Donohoe – Miranda
Jason Bernard – Judge Marshall Stevens
Director(s)
Tom Shadyac
Writer(s)
Paul Guay, Stephen Mazur
Producer(s)
Brian Grazer
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 6 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (63) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (11)
I would tell you that this is a loud, obvious, one-joke movie, but most of you would run out and pony up the eight bucks to see it anyway.
April 7, 2020
Paul Tatara
CNN.com
TOP CRITIC
Pretty funny, at least during those moments when it doesn’t turn into goo.
April 7, 2020
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Carrey has never been better – that is to say funnier, or more controlled. He’s reached a higher performance plateau here, playing a real human being we care about rather than a goon figure.
March 21, 2017
Duane Byrge
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
Jim Carrey entertains himself mightily, and his enthusiasm is infectious.
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Close to an ideal jumping-off point for Carrey, who spends the better part of an hour grotesquely physicalizing his scummy lawyer’s struggle with being obliged to utter cold, hard facts.
November 21, 2008
Todd McCarthy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Pretty rudimentary, but it keeps Carrey’s occasional over-exuberance in check and delivers likeable, effective, but decidedly mainstream comedy.
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Its not just Carrey as a comedic performer that makes this movie so enjoyable, its him as a very flawed, but very loving, father.
April 5, 2022 | Rating: 4.5/5
Wayne Broadway
Black Girl Nerds
There are several moments of inspired lunacy on full display.
January 22, 2022 | Rating: 2.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
…a briskly-paced comedy that relies heavily on Carrey’s unabashedly (and occasionally overbearingly) broad performance to propel the thin, overly familiar narrative forward…
January 19, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Jim Carrey is hilarious in this film
October 11, 2020
Rachel Wagner
Rachel’s Reviews (YouTube)
One of the best comedies of the ’90s and one of Carrey’s most enduring (and endearing) works.
September 14, 2020 | Rating: 10/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Carrey, unique among American stars, doesn’t need story or writing to delight. He needs only room, and “Liar, Liar” gives him plenty.
April 7, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Stephen Hunter
Baltimore Sun…
Plot
Fletcher Reede, a fast talking attorney, habitual liar, and divorced father is an incredibly successful lawyer who has built his career by lying. He has a habit of giving precedence to his job and always breaking promises to be with his young son Max, but Fletcher lets Max down once too often, for missing his own son’s birthday party. But until then at 8:15 Max has decided to make an honest man out of him as he wishes for one whole day his dad couldn’t tell a lie. When the wish comes true all Fletcher can do is tell the truth and cannot tell one lie. Uh-oh for Fletcher Reede.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Liar Liar on Fresh Kernels.
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