LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS (2004) *** I have to say this: it's not easy and I'm only going to say it once: Jim Carrey is great. I can't imagine any other actor doing half as well. Of course he's cast (against type obviously) as a disgusting, nauseating, grotesque, bilious, asinine, disturbed and flatulent actor, but…that dinosaur schtick was absolutely hysterical, brilliant, and he's basically at it every single second he's on screen. Like always, except this time it's actually worthwhile, and fits what's supposed to be going on. Even Meryl Streep can't get close to him, and she's pretty damn good. Not even Luis Guzman as an evil henchman elf! In fact only Emily Browning manages to keep it from entirely being Carrey's show, and that she only partially eclipses him with her winsome and wholesome and intelligent goodness would no doubt please Lemony Snicket. Speaking of Lemony, he's not an easy writer to screen, and Brad Silberling goes about it in some suitably bizarre ways. Snicket's voice is there through narration, but the visuals pick up the scent with spectacular sets, great costumes, and wildly varied musical accompaniment. It's quality and class (of a certain unenviable, perhaps, kind) all the way through. Hell, the closing credits alone are better than most films, show more originality and talent and, oddly enough, are somehow more likely to sell more books.
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