Son of the Mask (2005)

User Rating:

2.0/10   

Director:

Lawrence Guterman

Writer (WGA):

Lance Khazei (written by)

Release Date:

18 February 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Who's next?

Plot:

Tim Avery, an aspiring cartoonist, finds himself in a predicament when his dog stumbles upon the mask of Loki. Then after conceiving an infant son "born of the mask", he discovers just how looney child raising can be.

Plot Keywords:

Mask | Baby | Dog | Critically Bashed | Second Part

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Jamie Kennedy	...	Tim Avery
Alan Cumming	...	Loki
Liam Falconer	...	Alvey
Ryan Falconer	...	Alvey
Traylor Howard	...	Tonya Avery
Steven Wright	...	Daniel Moss
Kal Penn	...	Jorge
Ben Stein	...	Dr. Neuman
Brett Pickup	...	Museum Boy
Peter Callan	...	Museum Redneck
Ashley Lyons	...	Museum Security Guard
Wayne McDaniel	...	Museum Person
Sandy Winton	...	Chris
Rebecca Massey	...	Clare
Issac Longmuir	...	Chris & Clare's Child

Also Known As:

Die Maske 2 - Die nächste Generation (Germany)
The Mask 2 (USA) (working title)
Untitled Mask Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for action, crude and suggestive humor and language.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Philippines:G | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Australia:PG | Brazil:Livre | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-11 | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:MG6 | Singapore:PG | UK:PG | USA:PG | Argentina:Atp | Peru:PT

Filming Locations:

Burwood, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Dark Horse Entertainment

Trivia:

Two dogs were used in the film to play "Otis". They had their fur dyed in patches so that they matched on screen. The talented dogs were each taught different tricks.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Tim wakes up to feed the baby at night, he smashes the light, but it stays on.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dr. Neuman: The Mifulu represent a fascinating example of failed culture. The people of the Mifulu communicated entirely in rhyme, although that's actually less impressive than it sounds, because their language only contained one vowel. Also, if you've noticed, the only artifacts we've been able to unearth are primitive musical instruments...

Movie Connections:

Features One Froggy Evening (1955)

Soundtrack:

Blue Danube Waltz

Son of the Jim Carrey-less Mask

The story in a nutshell: Dog finds enchanted mask. Pre-Dad puts on mask one night for Halloween party. Turns out the mask gave him superpowers capable of doing anything he wants. Has a baby WHILE he has the mask on, thus giving baby superpowers when he is born. Dog gets jealous, decides to put on mask itself, and becomes super-insane dog. Mom goes away for a week, dad's about to face a big battle between his baby, the dog, and a really crazy god called Loki who wants his mask back.

Son of the Mask ends up being a generic, CGI filled, and otherwise throw-away movie, and normally, that would be the end of that. It no longer has Jim Carrey, and has toned down sexual innuendos to cater to kids. Being a parent, I know that young kids will love it, but will you? Here's a little questionnaire to find out:

1: Do you like old Bugs Bunny,Roadrunner,Woody Wood Pecker cartoons?

2:If you watched these mayhem-filled cartoons, would you still laugh?

3:Do you have kids, or a brother/sister under 12?

4: Do you like watching movies that are carried primarily by CGI effects?

If you answered 'no' to any of the above, you might not like the movie. You may even hate it. It is, after all, a real life cartoon. Things don't make complete sense. It's a very poor sequel in comparison. Jaime Kennedy is no Carrey, amid the fact that the Jamie Kennedy Experiment is a funny show. Alan Cumming as the god Loki? I liked him a lot better painted in dark blue as Nightcrawler in X-2. New Line Cinema paid way too much money to get this one made. I don't think they will get the money back.

But it's a family friendly film, no naughty words, no nudity. And, hey, when you're at a kids movie, you can't always expect Oscar winning performances. I was laughing my head off at some scenes, including one where the dog draws up a booby-trap plan to get back at the baby, and instead ends up getting caught in the trap itself. Instantly reminded me of Wild E. Coyote, getting his ACME trap to get the Roadrunner, and instead gets caught in it himself. That's the beauty of cartoons, you really don't have to think much, you don't have to ponder, just watch!

While I know that this movie will never get a good rating, it doesn't deserve the '1' that everyone is giving it. It's short, at least as good as a hectic cartoon, and every bit as cheesy. I just wish New Line would have spent their money more on the plot or just done another better movie.

If your kids really bug you to watch this one, do it on the cheap.

5 out of 10. To me, a 5 represents a movie that fails to meet all expectations, may be poorly produced, acted and directed, but may find interest in those that know what to do before watching this movie: films that you remove your brain for.