A charming film about a bigtime screenwriter who returns to a small town after losing his memory, The Majestic really does have a little magic sprinkled in.
I happen to love when famous comedic actors play serious roles. It shows their talent in a different range and you learn to love them in a new way. Let me tell you, Jim Carrey does not disappoint here.
The Majestic is a movie about a screenwriter who is coming into his success when he is accused of being a communist in 1951. As he is driving that night, he has an accident, forgets who he is, and is adopted as a long-lost son in a little town that has sacrificed many of their boys to the war. Never completely convinced that he is the young man they’ve been waiting for, he finds his center and learns what valor really is.
So many movies are built around the “coming home” genre that you have to make it a little unique so that it stands out from the crowd. It has to have a little bit of sparkle thrown in, and I feel like this film did.
The Majestic is very charming. The people that he meets, the throwback to small-town USA, the commitment that they have to each other and the boys that they lost, it’s really lovely.
With a few lesser talked about actors like David Ogden Stiers (Major Charles Emerson Winchester III in MASH) and James Whitmore (Brooks in The Shawshank Redemption), familiar faces like Jeffrey DeMunn, Bob Balaban, Cliff Curtis, and Martin Landau (who all show up in so many movies), a voice cameo by Garry Marshall (you’ll know it when you hear it), and another voice cameo that I’m not going to give away, the casting is fantastic. You feel like you are strangely at home in this small town.
But Jim Carrey really steals this show. He has a sincerity that is similar to his character in The Truman Show, and I honestly expected him to fully go in that direction, but he didn’t. This young man is more subtle, observant, and gentle. There is a sweetness about him. He is a different man.
Jim Carrey is an excellent comedian, but he really shines in this role and it is a reminder of what kind of depth he can bring to a character. His eyes sparkle even in his sad moments and you truly connect with his journey through the screen.
This movie doesn’t get as much love as it deserves, and I’m not sure why. If you go in knowing nothing, you will be charmed by Carrey, the townspeople, and the loving tone of the film. It is directed by Frank Darabont, who also directed The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption, and I felt a similar sprinkle of magic here. It’s a great watch.
Runtime: 152 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: PG
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes, it’s a sweet ride
Did I Cry? Yep, a few times
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Available: Free on Tubi, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
I happen to love when famous comedic actors play serious roles. It shows their talent in a different range and you learn to love them in a new way. Let me tell you, Jim Carrey does not disappoint here.
