Son of the Mask (2005)

(In French, On Cable TV, November 2021) There’s a difference between being energetic and being frantic, and while the first one makes for good movies (see: The Mask), the second makes for exhausting experiences—see: Son of the Mask. Coming from filmmakers who understood only the barest, most superficial elements of the first film’s success, this sequel includes more of everything until it all feels like a delirious nightmare in very bright colours. Jim Carrey being conspicuously absent from it all, the story picks up by focusing on a young couple, for which a night under the influence of The Mask leads to conception and a unique baby. (Never mind the tastelessness of that cuckoo premise — even though it’s clearly a film for kids.) A lot of money has been spent on Son of the Mask’s CGI effects, and it shows in the relentless use of not-so-polished visuals throughout the film, ignoring that often less is more. The dialogue is more histrionic than witty, and the climax builds to a special-effects showcase that almost entirely evacuates whatever interest we had for the character. It’s often compelling in that “what will they think of next?” fashion, but there’s a disconnect between waiting for the next big CGI effect and getting involved in the story, and it’s that lack of interest that ends up sinking Son of the Mask despite the frenetic movement and sound expended in a vain effort to make audiences care.