Growing up, I typically only knew Jim Carrey for his more comedic roles. From “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” to “The Mask” and “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” he was always the guy who could use his wacky facial expressions and comedic timing to really make me laugh.

However, as I’ve gotten older I’ve learned to appreciate those movies where he gets the opportunity to not only be a little funny, but also dig into something deeper.

You’ll find Carrey utilizing comedy and more dramatic takes in “The Truman Show” which I watched for the first time in ages a few days ago.

“The Truman Show” was released in 1998 by Paramount Pictures and was considered a psychological drama written by Andrew Niccol and directed by Peter Weir.

The movie follows Truman Burbank (Carrey) who is the star of the most popular reality TV show in the world. The catch: Truman has no idea he’s even in a TV show.

Nope, while Truman may think he’s living the picture perfect life in the little island town of Seahaven, he’s actually surrounded by nothing but actors and in the largest sound stage ever created.

We learn from the start that Truman was adopted by a television studio at birth and grew up in the fictitious world of Seahaven. His entire life has been broadcast across the globe through the use of an intricate network of cameras and a plethora of actors who are all in on the con.

I say con because, quite frankly, the idea of tricking an innocent person into something so insane is definitely a form of a con.

Something, odd main character begins to unravel through a few moments. This includes a stage light falling from the sky, rain falling only on him while at the beach and the radio in his car syncing up to the film crew which were documenting his movements.

While Truman thinks he’s being watched by the police or perhaps through a government conspiracy, his “friends” and “family” are attempting to keep the charade going. All while the show’s creator, Christof (Ed Harris), keeps a watchful eye (or as much as he can) on his creation.

Things continue to unravel, however, as Truman pushes the boundaries of the place he’s called home and refuses to let those around him tell him he’s imagining it.

The original script for “The Truman Show” was a one-page film treatment called “The Malcolm Show” which Niccol wrote in May 1991. At that time the story was based in New York and Niccol stated, “I think everyone questions the authenticity of their lives at certain points. It’s like when kids ask if they’re adopted.”

The creation of this movie wasn’t really that simple though. Weir felt the script needed lighter tones where Niccol kept them darker, leading to dozens of rewrites until they settled on what the script is today.

I can’t blame Niccol for being a bit dark with it. When you’re leaning into the idea of your life being something fictitious, and that your actions may not entirely be your own due to some overarching force, it could get a bit dark.

However, Carrey was the absolute perfect casting to satisfy both the writer and director’s visions I felt. He was able to bring his usual goofy charm into the mix while also not shying away from moments where you could truly see Truman’s existentialism.

He really provided the perfect balance to this. Sure, sometimes you were laughing a bit at him attempting to spook the townsfolk or “going off script” in a way to see what they’d do.

But you also got to see him truly fray at the edges and go insane trying to understand what was happening to him. This was compounded as everyone in his life repeatedly told him he was fine, even though in his gut he knew it wasn’t. (I feel everyone can relate to that feeling at one point or another, I know I sure can.)

Carrey plays Truman’s transformation from a typical, suburban guy who dreams of fleeing to Fiji for a vacation, into a determined man set on escaping the trap he’d unknowingly been in his entire life.

Outside of just Carrey’s acting, “The Truman Show” really had a huge impact on our culture.

Not only have many at the time said its use of surveillance was almost predicting the future, it also led to the discovery of a new syndrome.

According to my research, a psychiatrist named Joel Gold revealed in 2008 he had met five patients with schizophrenia — and heard of 12 others — who believed their lives were reality TV shows. He named this syndrome “The Truman Show delusion” after the movie and attributed it to “a world that had become hungry for publicity.”

Back in the entertainment industry, other directors have drawn inspiration from the film. This includes Greta Gerwig who directed the smash hit “Barbie” which was released in 2023.

When creating Barbie Land for the film, Gerwig said she’d drawn inspiration from the “The Truman Show” in the way it created an “interior soundstage world” and wanted to do something similar in her movie.

Falling down a rabbit hole of information regarding this show aside, I really did enjoy this movie.

I spent a lot of my time feeling slightly unsettled by the premise — in particular when it would cut to viewers (which included an entire themed bar full of patrons watching along). Reality TV shows are, of course, a thing in today’s society. However, the idea of being entertained by a reality TV show where I know the main character is completely unaware their actions are being filmed? That gives me the creeps.

I’m glad we, as a society overall, haven’t decided to attempt a Truman Show… I know I’d certainly be against it.

Regardless, with such an interesting storyline and Carrey at its lead, “The Truman Show” is an awesome film that I’d recommend to anyone.

“The Truman Show” is rated PG and can be streamed on Paramount Plus.

— — — —

Laura Jameson is Managing Editor of The Express.