Jim Carrey

Most of the movie is pretty hilarious, and I would have given this a higher rating if not for the extremely tasteless plot point that revolved around a trans person. LGBT jokes were peppered through a fair amount of 90's movies, and even if they didn't age well, they were funny back then (within the context of the movie and time) However, the trans thing in this movie was NOT funny back then and is just pure cringe now, how the hell did someone think that made a good story/plot point?

I chose to listen to this book, rather than read the print copy, because it was read by Jeff Daniels. (Loved him in the Dumb & Dumber movies with Carrey, as well as the more serious roles I've seen him in... I get the feeling he and Carrey are actually good friends in real life.)

I had forgotten, when I first began this book, that it was entitled "Memoirs and Misinformation." I forgot the "misinformation" part... It didn't take long for me to realize that this is a combination of truth and show more fiction. It had me wondering, throughout, which bits of the story are true and which are made up. Naturally, when Carrey mentions people like Rodney Dangerfield or Nicolas Cage, I'm aware those are real people. But the woman he mentions having a long relationship with, Georgie DeBusschere, is not real.

There are several real life events that Carrey (and his co-author, Dana Vachon) wove into this fantastic adventure. There are times when I felt like I was listening to a modern-day Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. I mean, it was definitely trippy, at times. But, for the most part, I was able to follow the train of thought as Carrey goes back in time and then into the present and back and forth again.

What mostly appealed to me (occasionally making me laugh, in the way that he pokes fun of himself, but mostly making me sad) was the way Jim realizes how empty a celebrity's life can be, despite all the best that money can buy... he really delves into the lonliness that is likely felt, even when one is surrounded by "friends" and "adoring fans". Also, he gets pretty deep into the short span of notoriety and usefulness of a particular actor... how to not only get to the top but to STAY on top. show less

Eek... some parts of this movie really have not aged well, but there's still plenty of hilarious bits, so in this day and age, it's not bad for an early 1990's flick, just be prepared for some offensive jokes but that's pretty standard for this sort of package.

I have watched this one more than once, it is that good. Why? Carrey, of course. Carla Gugino, as well, as his estranged wife. And his two kids are not typical annoying movie kids. And then there are the penguins, some great scenes, such as in the Guggenheim, and there's Angela Lansbury. Unless you are aghast at penguin poop, this is very family friendly as well. It even has a bit of a serious point to make. (It is almost nothing like the book it was based on, of course!)