This “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD release from Arrow Video will be released on November 11th (a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray is also available for purchase).
It’s hard for some to believe (myself included) that it has now been over 30 years since the release of The Mask. For those who weren’t around then, the movie studio landscape was much different. The big studios like Warner Bros., Paramount, 20th Century Fox and Disney (or Buena Vista) were at the top of the chain and usually made the biggest and most profitable pictures. But, as the 1990s began, smaller outfits like Miramax and New Line Cinema (known mostly for horror films) were making inroads. For those who don’t already know, New Line Cinema would become big enough to be acquired by Warner Bros. and become one of their film divisions.
The summer of 1994 offers a number of projects budgeted between $50 million and $100 million, including Maverick, True Lies, Clear and Present Danger, and Forrest Gump. But, one of the titles that made the biggest splashes was the $18 million dollar effort The Mask from New Line Cinema, based on a comic book and starring a hot new performer named Jim Carrey. He had just come off of his first starring role in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and his popularity was about to explode.
Arrow Video is delivering a stunning “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD of the movie with an incredible picture. The original 35mm camera negative has been scanned in 4K and is presented in Dolby Vision. This is a picture known for its impressively wild visuals, and the disc looks incredible. But, after 30 years, how does the movie hold up?
Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey) is a lonely bank employee. Despite his pleasant nature, he is constantly taken advantage of by others. His only friends are fellow employee Charlie (Richard Jeni) and his pet dog MIlo. After a particularly bad night, he ends up discovering a strange mask. As it turns out, it is a magical Norse item containing the spirit of Loki. When Stanley puts it on, he is transformed into a green-faced, fast-talking prankster and plays exaggerated pranks on those who have tormented him. Of course, there is more to the story. A vicious mobster Dorian Tyrell (Peter Greene) is planning on robbing the bank. He even sends his singer/moll Tina Carlyle (Cameron Diaz) to scout out the bank, who finds herself attracted to the sweet Stanley. Additionally, there is a curious reporter Peggy Brandt (Amy Yasbeck) who also takes a liking to Ipkiss, and a gruff police detective (Peter Reigert) frustrated by the bizarre shenanigans occurring across the city.
After 30 years, this is still a surprisingly entertaining popcorn picture with plenty of comedic spark. A young Carrey really lets loose here. When he’s the bank teller, he’s kind and reserved, holding everything back, and when the Mask comes out, the performer explodes with his physical comedy skills. The film really does play out like a Tex Avery cartoon, with many situations (like Ipkiss’s car literally falling apart on him) simply playing out with live props. The visual effects when The Mask appears hold up very well too, since they were always intended to appear exaggerated and cartoonish. When it attaches itself to Ipkiss’ face, it isn’t entirely seamless, but it does look stylish. And when The Mask’s eyes pop out of his head and the character acts out in a zany way (like when he unexpectedly pulls guns out of his pockets), it all looks wonderful to the eye. In fact, some of the visual effects are as good, if not better, than anything you’d see today.
Star Carrey certainly manages to keep his own identity despite having his face under a good deal of make-up, and other cast members are strong as well, with Diaz, Yasbeck, Reigert and Greene all managing to make an impression and get the most out of every comic situation. Even the pet dog MIla makes a big impression, getting into various comic situations while attempting to help out its owner. The prison bit is a real standout for the animal. There are some unique scenarios, including a dance number, and plenty of other entertaining oddities.
With its energetic presentation, this ultimately is a very enjoyable picture and one can see how it became such a massive success. Despite being made for only $18 million and receiving an August release, it ended up being a smash hit, grossing nearly $120 in the US. It was even more popular abroad, eventually making $352 million worldwide and earning an Academy Award nomination for Visual Effects. The film officially made a superstar of Carrey, with Diaz almost immediately becoming a box-office draw in her own right.
As mentioned, the 4K presentation of the title is top-notch, and it’s hard to see this picture looking any better on disc. In addition to the fantastic image, the new and archival extras are equally impressive and illuminating.
There is a new interview with director Russell who goes into the long history of development with the project. It appears that when New Line purchased the rights to the comic book, the Elm Street horror series was seemingly coming to an end and they were looking for a new genre icon in the mold of Freddy Krueger. Director Russell was offered The Mask with a darker and more graphic tone, but didn’t want to make another horror picture. Instead, Russell commented that the project might work better as a big comedy.
Everyone went their separate ways, but after a few years, it came back around to Russell. No one had been able to crack it, and the director and new screenwriters emphasized humor over horror. There were more battles with casting. Russell wanted Carrey, but he was only in the middle of filming his debut feature, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and executives weren’t sure that he could open a film. They eventually relented. And there were other issues. Many actresses considered for the female lead weren’t available or simply said no to the screenplay. Eventually, they went with model Diaz, who had no acting experience but impressed the filmmaker when he met her during the lengthy casting process. Figuring out how to accomplish the visual effects on a budget also caused headaches.
Typically, a movie that spends this kind of time going through so many changes doesn’t result in a great final product. But, it seems by the time the tone, screenplay, casting and effects decisions were finally nailed down, everything went swimmingly on what was described as a very fun shoot.
Two archival commentaries, including one with Russell and a second with Russell, New Line co-chairman Bob Shaye, screenwriter Mike Werb, executive producer Mike Richardson, producer Bob Engelman, ILM VFX supervisor Scott Squires, animation supervisor Tom Bertino, and cinematographer John R. Leonetti all offer remarkable insight into the production process and the challenges everyone successfully contended with.
There is also a new interview with screenwriters Mike Richardson, Mike Werb and Mark Verheiden, all of whom worked on the picture in different stages of development. One was very happy when they came up with the idea of the musical number, and you’ll also hear stories about how important the inclusion of the dog Milo was to getting the script across the finish line. Additionally, a recently recorded discussion with visual effects supervisor Scott Squires goes into more detail about achieving the look of the effects and his favorite gags from the film. A new talk with the editor goes into the process of assembling the film, and there is an amusing new segment with the choreographer. It not only goes into how the dance sequence was created, but presents never-before-seen rehearsal footage from the number.
Amy Yasbeck also appears in a new video, talking about getting cast in the film and how she and her husband, John Ritter, would help each other practice for auditions. She also goes into the story of her final scene in the movie, which was cut after a test screening. This is a SPOILER, so watch out and skip ahead two paragraphs if you don’t want to know right now. In the final cut the character disappears. However, in the original assembly, after she’s revealed to be working for mobster Tyrell, she ends up being thrown in a printing press in a cartoon-like fashion and squashed.
You can see this and another moment in the deleted scenes section that contains optional commentary. Most of what was shot ended up in the picture, but a few test audience members didn’t seem to like the flattening of the reporter (even though the end result is merely a printed run of papers with the character pressed up against a lens under a headline. Truth be told, it’s a good gag that should have been in the final cut. There is also an opening that shows how the mask arrived in the US. It’s amusing, but not entirely necessary to the story. The final cut bit involves a moment from the very end of the picture that had to be reshot so that a different character ends up with the ancient mask. In various extras, the director and others talk about feeling terrible for one cast member, who had to come back and redo the scene in uncomfortable conditions.
There is also a new video essay on the film that goes into extreme detail on Ipkiss’ pet dog MIlo (a Jack Russell Terrier), it’s part in the movie and other appearances from this breed in other movies and TV shows of the era. Archival featurettes on the production are also plentiful and the disc is rounded out with a trailer and an image gallery. It all comes with a booklet featuring new writing on the movie and a double-sided fold-out poster with two original artwork options (the reversible sleeve contains the two works as well). Six postcard-sized reproduction artcards are also included.
Once again, Arrow Video has delivered another extras-filled 4K Ultra HD release that really impresses. And as informative as the bonuses are, the most striking thing about it is the incredible picture quality that will wow any fan or first-time viewer of the movie. The Mask holds up surprisingly well and is still a comedy that will entertain entire families. This is an exceptional release that can’t be recommended enough. If you like the film or Jim Carrey titles in general, pick it up!
