Day 6 - What is your favorite comedy film?

Answer: The Mask (1994)

The Mask is about a down-on-his-luck bank clerk named Stanley Ipkiss who comes into possession of a wooden mask that transforms the person who wears it into a bizarre trickster being with reality bending powers. It turns out the mask is actually filled with the power of the Norse God Loki and that's what gives the wearer it's abilities. Wild and crazy shenanigans ensue. It's a classic comedy film. There are a few reasons why I consider this to be my favorite comedy films and it deals with more than the quality of the film itself.

Jim Carrey gives an amazing performance as both Stanley Ipkiss and Big Head (that's what the character is called in the comics, but never referred to in the film). I'm glad they decided to go with practical make-up effects for The Mask character rather than going with CGI like they initially intended. Carrey's facial expressions really sell the lunacy of the character's personality. On another note, I really identify with the character of Stanley Ipkiss. Sometimes I feel like I need to put on a metaphorical happy mask around others in order to get people to like me. I know it's got something to do with covering up my own clinical depression, but that's kind of how I take the movie. I know it's supposed to be a silly comedy, but I take the idea of the film more to heart.

The Mask is a film based on a Dark Horse comic book series of the same name. This film kind of follows the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles way of adapting the source material. The original comic books are much darker and much more violent, but they decided to turn the film into a more family friendly story. The character was kind of inspired by The Joker and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. That's kind of what you can expect if you haven't seen what the comic book entails. Lots of blood and violence galore. The comic book also features multiple people coming into possession into the mask. Stanley Ipkiss is only one person that happens to find it and he was the basis of the film.

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