Disclaimer
This review intends to be as unbias as possible. Nostalgia and fond memories are not tolerated while I review movies. I review movies based on plot, characterization, emotional pull mostly meaning humor, scene quality, and creativity. Each subject can get the movie up to two points if it is a Plus to the overall movie, or as low as none if it is a Minus to the overall movie. If it is passable or gets a Pass, it will get one point for the movie. I will not be comparing the movie to other subject matter, including original source material (the comics which I'm aware are far more violent) or other movies in the series (mostly a reference to the sequel). Without further delay, let's review the Mask.
WARNING possible spoilers WARNING
So the plot of the Mask starts out with Stanley Ipkiss having a bad day. He works for an arrogant rich son of the owner of a bank, and then the auto shop his car is at is ripping him off, then the girl he likes is at a club he can't get into and his landlord is horrid. Stanley finds an ancient mask and after putting it on turns into a cartoon character. Trying to right the wrongs he feels, the mask takes over for Stanley, and he ends up doing some crazy things which gets in the way of a small time crook trying to make money. The crooks go after Stanley and steal the mask of power to which Stanley has to escape jail and save the day.
Is the plot good? Kind of like a Saturday morning cartoon. This simple plot isn't a bad thing however, and there isn't random distractions for it either. The point of the movie isn't to be plot heavy, but the plot does hit all the points it should, the only issue is that Stanley's robbery just happened to coincide with the small crook's robbery. It is a huge coincidence honestly and it is the only problem with the plot I really have and it is a huge problem, acceptable otherwise.
The main character is Stanley of course. He is pretty much a repressed man until the mask comes on which unleashes his inner wild man. Everything he'd like to do in any situation he does, even if it is impossible. All the other characters react accordingly to having a cartoon character affecting the real world. The villain is a typical villain, and the damsel in distress is a bad girl gone good, while the one you think is the good girl goes bad. There are fairly interesting character developments, and what Stanley wants through the series does change allowing Stanley to develop into more of a heroic type wanting to save the day rather then someone who wants money and his car looking nice. It is an interesting character study like how the world would react if Bugs Bunny came out and robbed a bank. It is very good and well done, even if the most memorable characters are the ones who wear the mask. While the other characters aren't as memorable, they react and show up as well as they need to for the movie to show the point.
The movie is a comedy, and it is actually funny. It is mostly random gags in a Looney Tune or Tom and Jerry style of cartoon antics with people acting like this is happening in real life. The Mask character is silly and goofy but has a lot of powers to mess up other people's day, while people take things he does seriously when the power of the mask isn't affecting them as well. The Mask character is also classy which is awesome as there is a lot of jazz moments in the film as well. There is a certain level of fun and humor achieved in this movie that is often matched by little else.
There are a few issues here and there with the transformation scenes, and a few of the settings are slightly lower budget, but most of the movie has great individual scenes to it. There aren't pointless scenes and the special effects are pretty good for the time and still hold today. The makeup for the mask when different characters wear it all look different and unique which is also a plus.
There are certainly some creative notions in this movie. While it does take some from the source material, the comic of The Mask following Big Head, this movie is more about the characters reacting to the powers. Some of the things the characters do while wearing the mask is interesting and makes the movie rather unique in its own right. Not much has been like the Mask, and probably not many movies will be able to replicate this style.
Overall the Mask is a fun movie. It is less violent then the comic version yes, but the characters reacting to Stanley going crazy is interesting and humorous in the best of ways. There isn't much I could say that hasn't been said about this movie, it isn't for everyone, and if you are strong on plot this movie may have run you with a few issues.
I highly recommend giving this movie a try if you haven't, and if you haven't you are probably young or living under a rock (no offense if this isn't the case). The Mask is a funny romp and if you like humor, especially old Looney Tunes or Tom and Jerry cartoons then I highly recommend giving this a try if you haven't seen this movie yet. The jokes are cleaver and the premise is really good, but if you are a fan of the original comic and want things to stick to the source material you may have a hard time watching this movie. Other then that, sit back relax, then listen to some jazz while cops trying to take the events of the movie seriously end up doing the tango.