'Son of the Mask' can't hide its bad plot

By Forrest Hartman
The Reno Gazette-Journal

SON OF THE MASK (PG) One Star (Poor) Jamie Kennedy tries to keep tabs on his son, a boy who can imitate every cartoon he watches because of the effects of a magical mask. To expand is pointless, as the script has nothing useful to say. Traylor Howard and Alan Cumming also star for director Lawrence Guterman. New Line Cinema, 94 minutes.

"Son of the Mask" is a very bad movie.

It stars Jamie Kennedy (whose best work was on the TV show "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment") in a role one would think he inherited from Jim Carrey, star of the original "Mask." But Kennedy's character is not the one played by Carrey. Rather, he's a timid cartoonist named Tim Avery. In need of a costume for an upcoming party, he dons the magical, mythological Mask of Loki, unaware it will transform him into a manic prankster with super powers.

Because he cavorts about like a cartoon character, Tim becomes the life of his company party, impresses his boss and wraps the evening by impregnating his wife, Tonya (Traylor Howard).

In the meantime, Loki's father, Odin (Bob Hoskins) demands that his offspring nab the dangerous mask so it won't cause further problems on Earth. Reluctantly, Loki (Alan Cumming) begins a quest leading him to the son Tim produced while wearing the mask.

Of course, the boy has otherworldly powers that make child rearing a challenge.

That's the gag, more or less. And audiences are supposed to laugh hysterically as Tim tries to keep tabs on a boy who can imitate every cartoon he watches. There's also a subplot, in which the family dog competes for Tim's attention by wearing the Mask of Loki and tearing around like a crazed Tasmanian devil. To expand is pointless, as the script has nothing useful to say.

That the film got made is amazing. That it had a reported budget of $100 million is shameful. Had even a tenth of that sum been invested in a serviceable screenplay, "Son of the Mask" might have been worthwhile. But, judging from the onscreen product, every dime went to Industrial Light and Magic, which provided the special effects.

That said, the effects are amazing. And filmgoers who require nothing more from a movie than a baby who can blow his head up like a balloon will be astounded. Viewers who prefer more subtle ingredients, like humor and fascinating characters, will be astounded as well — astounded that someone saw fit to bring this mess to the screen.

Perhaps the greatest embarrassment is that the talented Cumming took part. It's easy to see why Kennedy would sign onto the project, as he's still clamoring for a shot at A-list stardom. But Cumming ("X-2") is such a fine character actor, he likely has 20 better projects fly across his desk weekly. We say this with some degree of certainty, as "Son of the Mask" sets the bar remarkably low.

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