"I CAN'T LIE!!"

We're all aware of the cliché that all lawyers are perpetual liars, but what if a lawyer was only capable of telling the truth? Would this put an end to their career? Would this prevent them from winning a case altogether? Taking this concept a tad further, could any of us survive a day without telling a single porky? These are the pertinent issues explored in the zany Jim Carrey vehicle Liar Liar.

Okay - let's take a step back here for a moment. I know how this sounds...a Jim Carrey comedy vehicle exploring certain issues and hoping to deliver a valuable message? Allow me to provide some further explication: this is a succession of over-the-top Jim Carrey comedy vignettes with a shoestring plotline that attempts to be mildly provocative and it works to a certain extent. If you're looking for gut-busting gags of the belly variety, or if you're a Jim Carrey fan, or if you're just in a bad mood and you require some light-hearted entertainment to put a smile on your dial...Liar Liar will prove quite satisfying.

Fletcher Reede (Carrey) is a fast-talking attorney working for a prestigious law firm. He has steadily climbed his way up the corporate ladder by embellishing the truth (isn't it a known job requirement for a lawyer to be a liar?), but such a commitment to his job allows little time for his family. To his family, Fletcher is a promise-breaker and a habitual liar. His entire career was built out of lying. He lies to everyone: his colleagues, his secretary, his mother, his ex-wife Audrey (Tierney) and, worst of all, he lies to he young son Max (Cooper). Audrey and Max become increasingly disappointed in Fletcher's unreliability, to the point that Audrey begins considering a move to Boston with current boyfriend Jerry (Elwes). When Fletcher fails to show up for his son's birthday party, however, Max makes a fateful birthday wish while blowing out his candles: that for a full day his father cannot tell a lie. Miraculously, this wish comes true - for 24 hours, porkies are prohibited, and Fletcher's fluent fibbery is substituted with an entirely truth-telling tongue. During his incurable and unwanted bout of pure honesty, Fletcher realises how much of a poor father he has truly become. He begins to see himself in a different light and realises that a world dominated by lies and deceit isn't the life he wishes to lead.

The central plot device of Liar Liar can only be described as both preposterous and laughable. It's physically impossible for a man to be cursed in such a way by a child's birthday wish. On the contrary, though, the film wouldn't be as fun nor as effective or plausible if the plot was grounded in reality. If Carrey's Fletcher Reede merely promised his son he wouldn't tell a lie, he wouldn't be forced to endure all the hysterical scenarios that make this film so much damn fun! Liar Liar isn't your stereotypical Jim Carrey outing. Sure, it appears as if it's just a mosaic of Jim Carrey skits...but the script places him on a leash. He has to move from point A to B, and simply has his own creative method of doing so.

Liar Liar avoids becoming a single-note movie by keeping the running time taut and allotting the first quarter of the movie to character development. The characterisations at least slightly cross over into the third dimension when it's time for Carrey to break out into his wild antics. The laughs are occasionally varied as well. There's Carrey overacting and Carrey accidentally spitting out the truth. A decent assortment of comedy is what makes this so enjoyable. However when the film is reduced to showcasing nothing but Carrey's silly antics the story unfolds in a formulaic fashion.

At the end of the day, Liar Liar doesn't break any new barriers and it falls flat in delivering a story about redemption. Unfortunately, there's also one major problem amidst all the fun and games transpiring during Liar Liar. Carrey does an exceptional job at comedy...but when it comes to serious acting...uh...where should I begin? The dramatic aspect is where Carrey fails. One moment he's an idiot; his facial contortions, over-reaching physical movements and overacting are all in glorious full display. The next moment he's conducting a deep and meaningful session with his son. We're unsure whether we're supposed to take him seriously. Moronic physical explosions and mushy pathos doesn't mesh well. The trite final scene at the airport is evidence to support this claim. Jim Carrey was made for the comedy arena, and it's the selling point of his entire career. In the years following this film's release, he suddenly went more sombre and serious with films such as The Majestic, The Truman Show and the contemptible The Number 23. Jim Carrey was born to be laughed at, and he should continue to capitalise on this talent.

If you're not a fan of Jim Carrey's overacting then there is no hope that you'll even survive the duration of Liar Liar. There isn't much variety in terms of genres. The film simply provides comedy, a thin story and ineffective drama. The film relies solely on Jim Carrey being funny to see it through. Carrey fans will enjoy (although they'll probably dislike the occasional seriousness), Carrey haters will probably be more joyed by a Paris Hilton concert.

In final analysis, Liar Liar comes across as a string of very funny moments connected by pulp. It's great fun, it's entertaining and it doesn't outstay its welcome at a tight 80 minutes. I'll be frank: from Ace Ventura to The Mask to Me, Myself & Irene, I always enjoy watching Jim Carrey's overacting. His acting abilities are limited, but in the realm of comedies he's certainly in the royal family. What's most impressive about Liar Liar is director Shadyac's capacity to realise when enough is enough. When the audience has been fed the correct dosage of Jim Carrey silliness, the film gracefully comes to a saccharine landing. Instead of sticking around too long, this little slice of comedic delight briskly winds down, leaving a grin on your face once the 80 minutes have concluded. You care only lightly about the story, but the comedic delivery alone makes this utterly wonderful viewing. Hang around for the obligatory blooper reel during the end credits to perfectly round off this entertaining nonsense.

7.5/10