The Majestic (DVD, 2002)

Jim Carrey steps outside his usual 'rubber-faced' comedic role to actually bring us a down-home All American bit of feel-good movie. Although there are still many bits that will bring a chuckle or two, the overall gist of the movie portrays the heavy-handedness of the US Government in it's search for "Commies" in the J Edgar Hoover days when even attending a rally (in this case to impress a girl) could land one on the listing of undesirables and bring you to the attention of the FBI.

Jim plays a movie writer who falls under this stigmata, loses his girlfriend, his movie gets canceled from production, and to top it all off, after an evening of drinking, he accidentally drives his car off a cliff, wakes up with amnesia, and gets mistaken for a MIA soldier in a small California town.

His plight is made more serious because of a love interest who thinks her love has returned from the dead, a father who had lost hope and let the family theater, The Majestic, fall into disrepair, and an entire town who truly loved the boy who had left for war and never returned.

With no memory of his life, one couldn't fault Jim for wanting to have this one... and while the FBI search for him goes on, he had to come to terms eventually when the restored Majestic inadvertently shows his own movie... opening the floodgates about the time that the FBI shows up.

Heartwarming and honest, this movie truly will make anyone with a bit of soul pleased, from the 'true love found' to the patriotic speech given in the FBI hearing, to the true meaning of the word "community".

The Majestic is a feel good movie. The director, who also did The Shawshank Redemption, has made a Frank Capra type of movie. Set in the post World War 2 era, Jim Carey stars as a blacklisted screenwriter who developes amnesia. He is mistaken as a missing in action soldier from a town. He adapts to the town's claims of who they say he is. Jim Carey's character has a profound influence on the town's citizens. This movie has little cursing or violence and no sexual content. I recommend this encouraging movie.

I normally don't like Jim Carrey's type of humor i.e. "The Mask" but in this movie, he mixes some humor in a dramatic role that'll make you feel good about your country, the men who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms & the gold star families. If you listen closely, you'll learn something about the Constitution & the Bill of Rights. The music from the Big Band era is excellent. The supporting cast especially Martin Landau, gives you the impression that you are really back in the 1950's when the locally owned cinema was the place where the whole town went to view the latest movie & newsreel! I give this movie 4.5 stars...call me sentimental because I grew up in that era where people actually got dressed up to out to the movies!

Wonderful story, fantastic era in time, as far as music, fashions, and cars go, and such a delight to see!!
Jim Carrey is an excellent actor, especially in character studies. He doesn't disappoint.
Great to see Martin Landau again. I remember when he was quite a "hottie!" He STILL is an attractive man, in his senior years.
David Ogden Steirs is always a welcomed addition, to any movie!
The leading actress (her name eludes me at the moment) is quite a beautiful girl. Has she been in other films, since? I hope so!
This movie is not to be missed!
Roberta Hughes

I am not a fan of Jim Carrey's. My sons can sit and laugh at all of his slapstick situations and weird facial expressions, but I cannot. I think that it is stupid because it is not realistic.

This movie IS realistic--if only you have a heart. Jim Carrey is marvelous in it, playing an amesiac found by a person who thinks that he is his dead son returned to life. The whole town thinks so too. Even his former girlfriend.
The love story between the two of them and the re-opening of a movie theatre that has been closed for a long time make this movie majestic.

When the authorities catch up with Jim Carrey, the movie jolts us back to the present of the 1950s and the Mc Carthy hearings. It is then that the audience sees a Jim Carrey that can be funny and serious to an idiotic hearing of government officials.

The DVD cover says that The Majestic is a valentine to the movies. It is a Christmas present for us.

The movie has a predictable ending but rightly so.