How Jim Carrey Nearly Ended Up Starring in the Worst Movie Ever Made

Jim Carrey’s rise to comedy superstardom in the 1990s was nothing short of meteoric. After honing his skills on the sketch show In Living Color, Carrey catapulted into the big leagues in 1994 with a trio of hits: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber. His rubber-faced expressions, fearless physicality, and unique ability to shapeshift into outrageous characters made him one of the most bankable stars of the decade.

The years that followed saw him balance slapstick with substance, moving seamlessly from comedies like Liar Liar and How the Grinch Stole Christmas to critically acclaimed dramas such as The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Yet, while Carrey’s résumé is stacked with iconic performances, his career is also marked by the roles he didn’t take. One near-miss, in particular, may have saved him from a cinematic disaster: The Master of Disguise.

The Role That Could Have Been

Carrey’s name was once attached to several high-profile projects he ultimately didn’t pursue, including The Aviator, Elf, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and Chaplin. But perhaps the strangest of them all was The Master of Disguise, a 2002 film that has since gone down in Hollywood infamy.

Directed by first-timer Perry Andelin Blake, the movie starred Saturday Night Live alum Dana Carvey as Pistachio Disguisey, a bumbling man who uses a series of outlandish disguises to rescue his kidnapped parents. Despite Carvey’s comedic pedigree and a supporting cast that included James Brolin, Jennifer Esposito, and Brent Spiner, the film was a spectacular flop—both critically and culturally.

A Disaster Dodged

Although The Master of Disguise managed a modest box office gross of $43.4 million, it was eviscerated by critics. Legendary film critic Roger Ebert gave it just one star, famously writing:

“The Master of Disguise pants and wheezes and hurls itself exhausted across the finish line after barely 65 minutes of movie, and then follows it with 15 minutes of end credits in an attempt to clock in as a feature film.”

The production’s problems were evident. Blake, primarily known as a production designer, had no directing experience, and the movie’s paper-thin premise collapsed under weak gags and uninspired execution. For Carrey, whose talents thrived on strong character work and sharp writing, the role would likely have been a career low point.

Choosing Bruce Almighty Instead

Instead of donning Pistachio’s disguises, Carrey chose a very different project: Bruce Almighty. Released in 2003, the comedy—where Carrey plays a down-on-his-luck TV reporter suddenly granted God’s powers—became a massive hit, grossing over $484 million worldwide. It cemented his status as one of Hollywood’s most bankable comedic actors, while The Master of Disguise quickly faded into punchline territory.

A Lucky Escape

In hindsight, Carrey’s decision looks less like a missed opportunity and more like a narrow escape. While his name is often associated with bold, over-the-top comedy, his instincts for choosing projects have largely protected his career from complete derailment. The Master of Disguise, now remembered as one of the worst studio comedies of the early 2000s, might have tarnished his reputation during his peak years.

Instead, Carrey went on to enjoy a career that has balanced blockbuster comedies with daring dramatic turns—something that Pistachio Disguisey could never have offered.

Would you like me to shape this piece as a lighthearted entertainment feature (playful, focusing on the “dodged a bullet” angle) or as a serious career retrospective (examining how this decision reflects Carrey’s instincts and longevity as an actor)?