Helped along by acting coach Larry Moss, Carrey was required to find a second psychology and physicality for Peter as he begins to rebuild himself in the image of Luke. "The days when I'm playing (screenwriter) Pete, I'm bummed out," the actor explains, "but on (soldier) Luke days, I literally grow two inches. I have the wardrobe guy going, 'How come this suit doesn't fit now?'"

  The word on the street is that this is the performance of a more mature, subdued Carrey. Long behind him are the days of his pet detective buffoonery. It's this new restraint that has impressed the likes of Martin Landau, who plays along side Carrey as Luke's father, Harry Trimble. "He's going to raise a lot of eyebrows and surprise a lot of people," enthuses the movie veteran, "It's a pleasure to see him as a human being, a really, complex character."

  At times in his career history Carrey has voiced concern about his slapstick past. He had a fear of becoming a 60-year-old actor who would still be cast in zany, athletic roles involving prat falls and funny walks. He has made it his mission in his most recent performances to distance himself from this image, surprising his detractors in the process.

  In 1998 he infused the character of Truman Burbank in The Truman Show with genuine pathos and depth. Carrying on in this vein he then stunned the public with his uncanny portrayal of Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon. Now with The Majestic, the third in his trilogy of understated performances, he may finally outdistance the garish shadow of his comedic past.

  "I've spent my whole life trying to be this magical elixir man," the actor says in a humble moment. "I'm realizing now that the real magic is the fact that I'm like everybody else." Coming from a man who is notorious for his almost extra terrestrial antics in earlier films, it looks like his career is becoming
as multifaceted as the characters he creates.

- David Summers