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Does it really matter if Jim Carrey changed his mind about Kick Ass 2?

When Jim Carrey changed his mind about his performance in Kick Ass 2 the internet erupted, and mostly not in a good way. I don’t see the problem – Sandy Hook had a profound effect on many people and it’s not like he’s pulled his performance. So why is producer Mark Millar “baffled”?

Today a lot of people are talking about Jim Carrey’s tweets that he no longer feels comfortable with the level of violence in Kick Ass 2 in light of the Sandy Hook shootings, and as you’d expect he’s being pilloried by some and praised by others. The producer of the film, Mark Millar, replied that he’s “baffled” about the decision.

I don’t see the problem, really. I find it perfectly feasible that the experience of performing violent acts during filming felt quite crass a few months later when the tragic massacre occurred in that school. Not that massacres are a new phenomenon, particularly in America, but maybe that was the one that broke him, happening so soon after working on Kick Ass 2.

I was going to write more, examining the range of reactions to the news from around the web, but then I stumbled across this piece by Devin Faraci at Badass Digest and his thoughts chime with mine.

On Carrey changing his mind at all:

To me that’s admirable. It’s possible that the extreme violence on set during the Kick-Ass 2 shoot contrasted with the real life violence of Sandy Hook weeks later is what caused something to switch over in Carrey’s thinking. That’s indicative of someone who is allowing experience in, who is examining his beliefs all the time, someone who isn’t didactic or chained to one belief system in the face of all reason. Yet to many others this is weakness, and an occasion to belittle and attack the guy. He’s bitching, they say. Didn’t he read the script?, they ask. He’s happy to cash the paychecks, they mock.

They, frankly, are the small minds.

The latest trend is for folk to angrily and snarkily demand Carrey donate his entire fee for Kick Ass 2 to charity. They’re doing this all wrong. For one thing his fee is for at the very least his performance (we have no idea what he’s contractually obliged to do beyond that so stop speculating) and he’s not removing his performance. So no, he shouldn’t donate his fee.

But I do think it would be okay for me to say,

“Hi, Jim. I respect your opinion and your having the balls to stand up and say it, and I’m looking forward to the film all the same. Have you considered also making a donation to a relevant charity? It might help make you feel better, and also maybe it would shut up those people on the internet, don’t know if that bothers you but anyway. I’m sure you’ve probably considered it, I’ll leave you be. Loved you in Eternal Sunshine by the way.”

You know, friendly, like?

Ultimately, people are always going to knee-jerk and get angry on the internet, they’ll get over it. But I remain rather baffled myself as to why Mark Millar would publicly express confusion at Carrey’s ability to change his mind. It shows a lack of compassion and understanding – he doesn’t have to agree with Carrey, but to me it’s not baffling.

It’s also hardly likely to do any damage to the film, not that for one second I think that was Carrey’s intention either. It’s going to get plenty of word-of-mouth off the back of this alone.

“So violent Jim Carrey doesn’t want anything to do with it!” certain sections of the media will scream, guaranteeing further bums on seats. An oversimplified misinterpretation it may well be but what section of the demographic Kick Ass 2 is aimed at is going to be put off by such a claim?

My opinion? As far as I’m concerned it isn’t movies like Kick Ass that enable or cause horrific shootings – I’m not sure that any element of pop culture should be held ‘responsible’ – so while I think Carrey’s reasoning sounds misplaced in that respect, I can’t argue with him having the courage of his convictions to be true to them.

By myglasseye

I'm a Glasgow-born stills photographer and camera operator living and working in London, UK. As well as cameras I'm into writing, gaming, general geekery and beers by Brew Dog.

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