The Truman Show

Last night I watched The Truman Show (while doing some baking and cleaning). I was quite disappointed. I like movies that have solid characters that you can relate to (in some dimension) as well as compelling story. The Truman Story lacked both.

I've always disliked Jim Carrey. His acting is exaggerated and his characters are over-the-top simpletons, which utilize base humour. I was under the impression that he had received good reviews for his role in The Truman Show and that he portrayed a more serious (i.e. regular, or, perhaps even, dramatic) character. [For example, ...the film really relies on Jim Carrey, and it is his unexpectedly mature performance that elevates it to greatness. [Dan Jardine, Apollo Guide] and If you expect and want to see the hyper-wacky Carrey...you'll hate it... [Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)] (both via Rotten Tomatoes). However, his acting was still exaggerated and Truman was a shallow character, which could be describe at best as average, and certainly not great. And I think his going crazy and running off in a fake nuclear disaster and being subdued by men in isolation suits ranks as wacky. Almost all of the other characters were equally disinteresting. In fairness, I suppose that means that the actress playing his wife did an decent job, as she was playing the part of (faux) actress, but that lack of genuineness didn't help to make the movie captivating. The only character of any interesting was the show's director, played by Ed Harris, but his role was relatively minor and near the end of the film.

The story was subpar also and too confusing. It had a few good moments - in theory, the concept was good and, for example, I liked how a mechanical part falls to the street in front of Truman at the start of the movie and then on the way to work he hears about a plane shedding parts on the radio. Later, it is revealed the he really lives inside a giant set. (Implying that the mechanical part was really a light for TV set and weaving different parts of the movie together). But, what of Truman's (supposedly dead) father showing up, disappearing, and then reappearing in a grand introduction that never got past the build-up of seeing him in silhouette. After all that effort to create the portion of the plot about the return of hisfather, the only time the father was on camera was 30 minutes later when he has a one sentence line (and Truman wasn't even in the scene)! If Truman's life is on live TV 24-7, you'd think that his father, who was lost at sea and presumably dead for 20 years, would warrant some interaction with Truman!

The movie also didn't even try to be believable. At the end, Truman is onboard a boat when a giant storm (created by the TV studio) hits and washes him overboard. He utterly soaked and floating in the ocean. The (generated) storm ends, calm waters reappear and Truman climbs back on the boat (and then the edge of the TV studio). By all appearances, only a couple minutes have elapsed. So can someone please explain to me why Truman, clad in a sweater, shirt, pants, etc. is bone dry, without a drop of water on him?