5) The Mask (1994)
Yup, the Jim Carrey comedy most certainly was based on a comic book originally conceptualized by publisher Mike Richardson, then brought to fame by writer John Arcudi and illustrator Doug Mahnke. I know, when the movie was released, it seemed like just another vessel to highlight Carrey’s zaniness, but after I discovered that Chuck Russell’s film was actually based on a comic book, the movie was placed in a new light.
The Mask is comprised of a certain level of slapstick comedy, as a timid Stanely Ipkiss finds a mask that when placed on the face, overtakes the human underneath. His actions are overly emphasized, his yellow tuxedo costume becomes instantly memorable and he’s got catch phrases galore (“Ohhh, somebody stop me!”), essentially becoming a cartoon character when in proper form. The Mask can do things like whip out novelty-sized hammers from his back pocket without question, all while keeping a slick 50s-style bravado that includes acting like a gangster while getting away with phrases like “tootse” – a very smooth, goofy hero.
The Mask is a successful comedy that pays homage to a rather ambitious source years before Marvel overtook the comic book genre, never abandoning what made Arcudi adn Mahnke’s material so appealing.
