“Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” (Paramount Pictures)
Jim Carrey stars as the villainous Count Olaf in the new film “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.” How much you like the movie will depend on how much tolerance you have for Carrey’s brand of overacting. If you think he is a genius, well you might find some fun in the film. If on the other hand you think of him as a highly overrated actor then you will be bored to tears. I am in the latter category.
Lemony Snicket (an unseen except in shadows Jude Law) is the narrator of the story. He tells the taleof the three Baudelaire children – Violet (Emily Browning), Klaus (Liam Aiken) and Sunny (played alternately by twins Kara and Shelby Hoffman). At the start of the film they are orphaned when a mysterious fire sweeps through their family home and kills their parents. They are immediately sent to live with their “cousin” Count Olaf (Carrey).
Olaf just wants to get his hands on their fortune and treats them as virtual slaves. Luckily the children have some saving traits. Violet is a whiz at coming up with inventions. Klaus memorizes everything he has ever read. Sunny can bite anything. The film is composed of a battle of wits between the children and Olaf.
Meryl Streep is also in the cast as the children’s Aunt Josephine, while Billy Connolly plays Uncle Monty. Both of these actors try to inject some humor into the movie but are overcome by the script. Dustin Hoffman, Cedric the Entertainer, Jennifer Coolidge and Catherine O’Hara have cameos but none of them make much of an impression.
The look of the film is pure Tim Burton at his “Nightmare Before Christmas” best. It is hard to determine the time period in which the film is supposed to be taking place as the costumes work against the modern aspects of the sets.
The movie is rated PG for profanity and violence. Since the story concerns an evil man who kills more than one person, smaller children should not see it.
Carrey’s performance as Olaf is totally over the top and is irritating rather than entertaining. Carrey projects a smug attitude and seems to think his performance is his greatest achievement yet. It isn’t. Perhaps the director asked him to go for more. Well if he did, he got what he asked for and then some.
Devotees of the “Lemony Snicket” books may find some enjoyment in this adaptation which is based on the first three novels. Others may be turned off by it all and think this “Lemony Snicket” film is just a “lemon.”
I scored “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” an uneventful 3 out of 10.
