Remember Jim Carrey, the actor that made you pee your pants when you watched “The Mask” or “Ace Ventura”? Carrey was on top of the world during the 90s and early 2000s. But we haven’t really heard much from the actor, at least not since his last “Dumb and Dumber” sequel. So why has Hollywood forsaken Carrey? Here are some possible answers. Let’s start with the most polarizing one.
If you binge watch on all of his movies, you probably think that Carrey is awesome. He even showed potential during the 80s horror comedy flick Once Bitten. But he’s not everyone’s cup of tea. In fact, some people can’t stand him. Now, rumor has it that Hollywood has hit an all-time low on box office hits in 2017. So, it’s downright possible that studio execs don’t want to risk it, and the reason for it has to do with money.
Hollywood doesn’t just invest on looks, but on how bankable a star is. Back in the day, Carrey only had to make a silly face and people would fall off their seats because they laughed so hard. But in today’s world, audiences prefer more subtle humor. Just look at Carrey’s 2013 film “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.”He wasn’t even the main star and the movie became a total failure for Hollywood. But directors just aren’t fond of Carrey for other reasons…
No one wants to work with a difficult co-worker, especially when they become obnoxious like Carrey did on “Man On The Moon.” He didn’t listen to a word the director said, and opted for a bit of method acting. He also brought the Hell’s Angels on set and smeared cheese on his co-workers’ hands when he offered to shake them. But there was another one antic on set that really rubbed the studio the wrong way.
While filming the Andy Kaufman biopic, Carrey tried to intentionally injure his neck to simulate the injury his pile driver character suffered. He got his wish, but not the way he expected. He instigated a fight with wrestler Jerry Lawler, who game the neck injury he sought out. But the film’s insurance company was livid and for good reason. Aside from insurance issues, there’s another reason studios lost faith in Jim Carrey.
Aside from humor, Carrey has also taken on some award-winning roles like “Man on the Moon” and “The Truman Show,” which earned him two Golden Globes. But studios have lost faith in him since then. Maybe it’s because he hasn’t been nominated since 2004. Then again, it could be because he didn’t want to promote his own film…
Carrey played Colonel Stars and Stripes in 2012’s “Kick-Ass 2.” Unfortunately, that was the same year that the Sandy Hook school shooting happened. So, when the time came to promote the film, Carrey dissed it, and refused to support the violence it showed. As you might have guessed, the execs behind the movie were upset but the next reason probably poisoned Hollywood’s opinion of Carrey.
Controversy can poison an actor’s career. Just ask Carrey, who voiced his beliefs that vaccines were nothing more than poison and verbally attacked California’s governor. While everyone’s entitled to their own beliefs, these types of statements can push audiences and studio execs away. But there’s another legal issue that might make studios cringe at the thought of hiring him.
Recently, Carrey’s been in and out of court dealing with a lawsuit brought on by Cathriona White’s parents. Cathriona was Carrey’s ex, and they blame him for the reasons behind her suicide. They also claimed that he infected her with STDs and gave her the drugs that resulted in her overdose. So, it looks like until Carrey resolves his legal woes, filmmakers will avoid him like the plague. Meanwhile, the stress may have caused him to start saying some pretty ridiculous things.
Carrey has been vocal about the spiritual as well as other philosophies like the power of consciousness. But he shocked Catt Sadler during an interview when he told her that “there is no me.” He also rambled on about “clusters of tetrahedrons moving around together.” Essentially, he claimed that he doesn’t exist, which makes sense as far as why he isn’t getting any work. They probably can’t hire him because he keeps vanishing…
Actors are people too, and once in a while they take a break from Hollywood. But even Carrey has confessed to taking self-imposed hiatuses, where he’d go to learn something new. He claims it’s his way of waiting until a script finds him. But under the circumstances, there might be a simpler explanation as to why Carrey isn’t being hired.
Carrey has been going through a spiritual journey of self-discovery over the years, which begs the question, is he simply over the whole acting thing? He’s even been heard saying at a comedy club that he has “nothing to say! I’m not hungry anymore. I’ve done it all.” This seems to suggest that he might be ready to bid farewell to Hollywood for good. So what’s keeping him busy now?
Chris Pratt is Hollywood’s latest breakout star, and he’s been having a little help with that. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Chris Pratt told them that Jim Carey has given him plenty of advice that has been life altering. Carrey even convinced Pratt to take a break from acting to focus on his family. Meanwhile, Carrey’s also been working on some things that he’s actually done his entire life…
His documentary “I Need Color” allowed Carrey’s fans to see what the actor’s been up to, like painting and sculpting, two things he’s been perfecting for years. He’s also a writer, and has been busy on a novel. No wonder he hasn’t had time for movies. But that doesn’t mean that he’s ready to give up on show business, though.
Carey’s been working as the creator and executive producer of a new show called “I’m Dying Up Here” on Showtime. It takes place in the 70s and revolves around a comedy club set. The show is such a hit that it was given a second season renewal, which just comes to show you that Carrey’s got mad skills behind the camera too. But when will he act again? You might not have to wait long…
There’s nothing wrong with an actor going from the big screen to the small screen. In fact, it’s a smart choice, which is why Carrey will be starring in a Showtime TV show called “Kidding” in 2018. He’ll play Jeff, a children’s entertainer with some major family issues. Hopefully this will spearhead Carrey’s career path in a new direction, and we certainly wish the best for him!