Fast-talking lawyer and habitual liar Fletcher Reede (Jim Carrey) is constantly coming up with excuses for not visiting his four-year-old son, Max (Justin Cooper), who lives with Fletchers ex-wife, Audrey (Maura Tierney). When Fletcher misses Maxs fifth birthday party, Max makes a wish that his dad will stop lying for a whole day. The wish is immediately put into practice, and Fletcher thus finds himself becoming disturbingly honest with his boss (immediately after having sex), his colleagues, and worst of all, in court.
Jim Carrey is back in top form after his disastrous outing in The Cable Guy. As a lawyer who becomes physically unable to tell a lie for 24 hours after his son makes a magical birthday wish, Carrey learns a few brutal truths about the real meaning of life. There is very little plot, but Carreys rubbery contortions and slapstick trickery provide just enough humour to keep you interested in this breezy bit of escapism. Not aided in Liar Liar by pets or animation, Carrey manages to do amazing and unique things with very simple props. He is also more in control of his acting than before. He is still over the top, but remains believable in some of the lower-energy scenes. An added plus is that the comedy is not as coarse as weve come to expect from him. --Rochelle OGorman