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Liar Liar
MCA / Universal Pictures


8.8

based on 19 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 8 votes
Read user comments
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FILM:

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for sex related humor and language

Starring Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney, Justin Cooper, Cary Elwes, Anne Haney, Jennifer Tilly, Amanda Donohoe, Jason Bernard, and Swoosie Kurtz

Jim Carrey stars as a fast-talking attorney and habitual liar who, forced by his son's birthday wish, must tell the truth for the next 24 hours. (Universal)

GENRE(S):	Comedy \| Fantasy
WRITTEN BY:	Paul Guay Stephen Mazur
DIRECTED BY:	Tom Shadyac
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: May 6, 2003 Video: September 23, 1997 Theatrical: March 21, 1997
RUNNING TIME:	86 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

Nominated, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical (Carrey), 1998 Golden Globe Awards

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Washington Post Desson Thomson

It's a magnificent comic experience.

Washington Post Rita Kempley

Carrey is not only under control, but funnier than ever.

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

Carrey's attempted self-immolation in a men's room, which weirdly recalls certain Fred Astaire routines, may be a small classic.

The New York Times Elvis Mitchell

Two little words: Jim Carrey. That's all it takes to transform Liar Liar from a formulaic Hollywood comedy into an uproarious one-man free-for-all.

Empire Darren Bignell

It's worth hanging on for the spice of the closing credit outtakes, which effectively rounds off a reliably entertaining slice of comic nonsense.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

I am gradually developing a suspicion, or perhaps it is a fear, that Jim Carrey is growing on me. Am I becoming a fan? In Liar Liar he works tirelessly, inundating us with manic comic energy.

San Francisco Chronicle Peter Stack

Carrey goes boldly where no funnyman has ventured before, and it's simply amazing to watch him do it.

San Francisco Examiner Barbara Shulgasser

What's best about this script is the premise: a lawyer who doesn't lie.

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

Jim Carrey entertains himself mightily in Liar Liar, and his enthusiasm is infectious.

LA Weekly Manohla Dargis

He's (Carrey) an unruly commodity and, as such, compulsively watchable.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

For Liar Liar is marking time through the duller moments of exposition, wishing the film was as sharp overall as Carrey is himself.

Variety Todd McCarthy

Awfully funny at times.

Austin Chronicle Russell Smith

This film is both too formulaic and too much a one-man vehicle to rate as a true masterpiece. But God strike me dead if I'm lying, this is one gut-busting funny movie.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

A laugh a minute? Liar Liar Jim Carrey's forced truthfulness means a lot of mildly funny facial gyrations.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

Carrey is forced to confine his antics to the needs of Liar Liar's unimaginative screenplay, and the results are mixed.

Newsweek Jeff Giles

Once Fletcher starts telling the truth against his will, the movie delivers some perfect laughs.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Keith Phipps

For those who like Carrey and are waiting for a film they can honestly say they enjoyed through and through, this ain't it.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Jim Carrey proves that he's the most inspired clown in movies today, but parents should be warned that much of the picture's humor is extremely rude and crude.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

A sickly soft-swirl confection of low laughs and smarmy sentiment.

The average user rating for this movie is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 8 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Guy! gave it a10:
Jim Carreys' best work, no matter how many times I see it, it never ceases to make me laugh.

Myles #13 gave it a10:
Jim Carrey is one of the funniest men alive, and this movie displays his talent for all to see! Carrey just goes all out... anyone whose brain is not in a jar will laugh til it hurts watching Liar Liar. COMIC GENIUS!

Floyd H. gave it a10:
Probably the funniest movie I've ever seen. Jim Carrey's completely unleashed antics border on insanity. Everyone I know raves about Liar, Liar. Our family owns the video, most have seen it 20 times and we still get a big kick out of it. In fact I think I'll go watch it now!

Sam gave it a9:
After crap like Napoleon Dynamite and Mail-Order bride, it's good that there are movies like this where you can leave a movie theater or living room with a grin on your face saying "Damn, that was funny!"

Matt K gave it an8:
I didnt want to review this movie on this rating thing, but rather tell Pat C. that his short review was very good and he should be commended for it. Thanks.

Pat C. gave it a5:
Carrey's best work as an overactor. The premise payoff scenes where Carrey can't lie are generally worth seeing, with the boardroom scene unbearably hilarious. The show ripped right along, but the romantic schmaltz was stomach-churning, and psychological child abuse is not funny no matter how you slice it.

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Liar Liar MCA / Universal Pictures

Liar Liar
MCA / Universal Pictures