Jim Carrey: Just say no to sequels.

Jim Carrey’s displeasure at recreating his roles for sequels has really proven to the studios that there are laws of diminishing returns. Their need to continue to capitalize on successful franchise has led to some disastrous decisions.

Jim Carrey had maybe the greatest box office year of his life in 1994, with three films (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask and Dumb and Dumber) grossing a combined $319 million. In the 14 years since, he has been a good risk to invest $20 million in salary. That is, if you find an original role for him.

Dumb and Dumber/Dumb and Dumberer: When Harold Met Lloyd

New Line Cinema waited nine years to release the prequel to Dumb and Dumber and this time did not horribly fail. Grossing $26.2 million against a budget of $19 million, this sequel may have made money in the video/pay-tv market. The best thing I can say is every time I look at the DVD box, I marvel at how much the younger Derek Richardson resembles Jim Carrey.

The Mask/Son of the Mask

The only thing connecting the two movies is the “mask.” As if it was the power of a prop that earned $120 million for Dark Horse/New Line and not the great performance by Jim Carrey as Stanley Ipkiss and his Tex Avery-ed alter ego. The trailer was enough for me – an assemblage of bad ideas and bad CGI, so I wasn’t among the people who generously raised $17 million to see it. How much was that budget? $74 million! The original had a $19 million budget and earned 10 times box office. Son of the Mask was a Heaven’s Babygate and no one could blame the editing for its earnings or 5% Tomatometer rating.

Bruce Almighty/Evan Almighty

Director Tom Shadyac and Universal turned an $81 million budget and Jim Carrey into $242 million box office in 2003. That’s a great showing on a very expensive risk. In 2007, they doubled the bank ($175 million) and enlisted Steve Carrell, who has had moderate success in the theaters recently. Evan Almighty made $100.2 million and will probably recoup in video and overseas. It’s just hard to think of $100 million in earnings as a failure, but in this case it is.

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective/Ace Venture: When Nature Calls/Ace Ventura Jr.

Jim Carrey made the sequel to the first Ace Ventura, possibly disillusioning him against it in the future. Still, a bankable property languished in Morgan Creek/Warner Bros.’s cold storage until someone came up with the fresh idea Ace Ventura Jr., which stars now 13-year old Josh Flitter as Carrey’s progeny.

It is modestly budgeted at $30 million and will probably be marketed to kids, which is a smart move. Time will only tell, however, if Ventura the younger has operatic buttocks like his father.

THE LIST

Film – Director (Year, Production/Distributor) – Budget (mil.) – Gross (mil.) – Tomatometer Reading

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective – Tom Shadyac (1994, Morgan Creek/Warner) – $12 – $72.2 – 49%

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls – Steve Oedekerk (1995, Morgan Creek/Warner) – $30 – $108.3 – 33%

Ace Ventura Jr. – David M. Evans (2008, Morgan Creek/Universal) – $7.5 – Spring 2008

The Mask – Chuck Russell (1994, Dark Horse/New Line) – $18 – $119.9 – 75%

Son of the Mask – Lawrence Gueterman (2005, Dark Horse/New Line) – $74 – $17.0 – 5%

Dumb and Dumber – Peter Farrelly (1994, New Line) – $16 – $127.1 – 59%

Dumb and Dumberer: When Harold Met Lloyd (2003, New Line) – $19 – $26.2 – 10%

Bruce Almighty – Tom Shadyac (2003, Universal) – $81 – $242.5 – 49%

Evan Almighty – Tom Shadyac (2007, Universal) – $175 – $100.2 – 23%

RELATED ARTICLES

Ace Ventura 3: Carrey Not Included [Rotten Tomatoes]

Chronology of Jim Carrey sequels, not starring Jim Carrey [Dog and Pony Show]

Sources: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes