Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events

December 29, 2004

Rated: PG Runtime: 113 min Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Here is the scenario guys: The family is in town. You have eaten. Nothing to talk about and the wee ones are getting restless. You ask yourself a question. Self? Yes. Do we stare at each other and pretend to care what is going on in each others lives or do what any man would do and escape the house and see a movie? I think you know the answer. Pack up the crew and go the multiplex for a little old-fashioned isolationist entertainment BUT… it is Christmas so you need to see something kid and mom friendly. If you have already seen the Incredibles and SpongeBob this one will do. If not forget this over hyped 800-pound gorilla and see one of the other 2. Snicket is not great but it passes for a decent way to spend 2 hours.

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events After a fire claims the lives of the Baudelaire children’s mother and father they are sent to live with their closest (geographically) living ‘relative’. Violet (Emily Browning) Klaus (Liam Aiken) and Sunny (baby) are sent to live with dear Count Olaf (Jim Carrey). Olaf is a schmuck that forces the kids to live in the attic and cook and clean for him while he and his acting troupe take up space. Olaf does everything in his power to gain full guardianship so he can claim the family fortune. He even (dun-dun-dun) tries to kill them when he discovers he can’t have their money unless he is either married or they die accidentally. Typical kid story crap. Evil guardian trying to kill kids and steal money. Seen it a hundred times.

Carrey is actually funny in this and after seeing his last couple of comedies I thought he might be on 14 minutes and 59 seconds. Glad to see I was wrong but the funniest part of this movie has to be the subtitles associated to the youngest kid Sunny. Very funny stuff. I laughed out loud at least 3 times. I am not sure if the exchange of comments between Olaf and the baby are actually in the books because I am a grown man and my son has already read them so there is no reason to find out. But if the movie is any indication then they might be a good read for your kids or you… if you have mother issues and need a ba-ba to go night night while you squeeze your teddy and cry yourself to sleep as you dream of midgets dancing on coffee tables… so on and so on. If you do then call a doctor ASAP and get some help. If not keep reading.

Although Carrey and Streep are both a bit over the top with their characters and Carrey plays 4 in this one, it works. I say the 3 stars is appropriate and the lack of T&A almost got it 2 but along comes Stiffler’s mom to help round it out. It is no where near as good as Harry Potter or last years surprise success Holes but it’s also not the F’N Cat in my wallet or Grinch who stole my 10 bucks either. Better than most kid friendly feel good crap and not as good as Star Wars which is only 5 short months away, hehe.

Posted by J.C. Edwards | Filed Under 3 Stars, Billy Connolly, Comedy, Emily Browning, Jim Carrey, Liam Aiken, Merryl Streep, PG, Theatrical