Liar Liar

  • Review Date: August 11, 2005
  • PG-13
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 1997
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Carrey's mugging glosses over some tough issues.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this film contains strong language and a scene in which a character beats himself up very badly. There is also a seduction scene, though without any nudity or actual sex.

  • Not applicable.
  • A character beats himself up quite violently.
  • A seduction scene, though without any nudity or actual sex. A sexual joke or two.

What's the story?

Jim Carrey is a funny guy, and in LIAR LIAR he gives a funny performance as Fletcher Reede, a lawyer who gets through life by telling many lies. Some of them are little white lies, like complimenting his not-so-attractive coworkers on their appearance. Some are bigger, like getting his petty criminal clients out of trouble. But the worst lies he tells are to his son Max, who he's neglecting for work. Max's birthday wish is that his father will be rendered incapable of lying for one day, and the wish comes true. Fletcher is completely unable to lie, throwing his professional and personal lives into utter chaos.


Is it any good?

 

The moral is pretty easy to grasp -- it's better to tell the truth than to lie. But in the rush to get to the happy ending, the film avoids the more complex issues involved. For example, when Fletcher tells his coworkers what he really thinks of them, he insults and hurts them, and his adoring secretary walks out on him (though later she walks back -- this is a comedy, after all). But that gets swept aside as Fletcher tries to stop his ex-wife from moving to Boston with her new boyfriend and Max.

In fact, the whole premise boils down to Fletcher telling Max he loves him, something we've never really doubted. Basically, this is a vehicle for Carrey, and he runs with it, doing his usual impressive rubber-bodied antics and clearly improvising quite a bit of the comedy. It's entertaining but ultimately rather hollow.


Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!

What families can talk about

Families can talk about lying and how it affects people. When Fletcher was telling lies he got into a certain kind of trouble, but when he had to tell the truth, he found trouble of a different sort. Is it ever okay to lie?


This review was written by Sarah Wenk
Teen, 15 years old
April 9, 2008
 
This was really funny.
I say it is a great movie for family. Just one small bad scene where a couple are having sex on a tape. Other than that, It was a great movie. 4 Stars.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 15 years old
April 19, 2009
 

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
FUNNY MOVIE!

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
April 19, 2009
 
If you love comedy, you will love this!!
This movie is hilarious!!

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
February 27, 2009
 
Funny but a little bad!
The movie is hilarious. But they say s___ and d___ alot.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 17 years old
April 4, 2010
 
HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!
this is hands down my most favorite jim carrey movie. I love him!!!! there is a sex scene, but its no more suggestive than any other of his movies. there is also some very explicit noises on a tape recorder. other than that its so funny whether you like or dislike jim carrey you cant miss it!!

Flag as inappropriate 
Parent
November 9, 2008
 
Yellow Light for Sure
I remember seeing it BC with my husband (Before Children) and thought it was hilarious. What I didn't remember was the liberal dose of profanity and running stream of sexual references. I wish I had read the common sense media review, before renting it. Are my kids worse off for seeing it? No. Did they laugh? Yes. I recommend you proceed with caution...

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 15 years old
December 29, 2009
 
lovee this movie!!!!!!
another awesome movie with Jim Carrey i love him!!!! and its appropriate if ur id knows a little bit about sex soooo yeaaaa

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
fun movie!
This is such a good movie! the recording in the courtroom is the kind of thing you may what to cover little kids ears for, but other than that there is really nothing too bad. Good for 11+!

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Sarah Wenk
Studio:Universal Pictures
Director:Tom Shadyac
Cast:Jim Carrey, Justin Cooper, Maura Tierney
Genre:Comedy
Run time:97 minutes
Theatrical release date:March 21, 1997
DVD release date:December 31, 1999
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:strong language and sexual situations

This review was written by Sarah Wenk
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

 

vote now

Will you see Liar Liar?


Already seen it? What do you think?

 

Been There? Tell us about it