Me, Myself & Irene MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +3 Content: -4

Officer Charlie Baileygates (Jim Carrey) loves his work as a state trooper in Rhode Island. For 17 years, he served his state with pride, helpfulness and a genuine love for people. But when he buries the pain and anger of his personal life deep inside him, something begins to develop. On one particularly bad day, that something rears its ugly head, Charlies schizophrenic alter ego, Hank. Unlike Charlie, Hank loves to express anger and even seeks it out opportunities. So when Charlies superiors assign him to escort Irene Waters (Rene Zellweger) back to upstate New York, Hank is just waiting to come out at the slightest sign of trouble. Opposite personalities provide some hilarious scenes as Carrey fights himself for control and for Irenes love. Produced by the Farrelly brothers, whose THERES SOMETHING ABOUT MARY was a surprise hit in 1998, ME, MYSELF & IRENE has blockbuster potential with Jim Carrey but may be damaged by its extreme sexual content.

Some protests about this film using schizophrenia in comedic fashion are making the news, but the film doesnt appear to make light of peoples handicaps. Instead, the filmmakers take a potentially funny situation and wrap a story around it. Many of Carreys earlier films appeal to young teenage audiences, but this one might be a bit deceptive. Advertising clips include several funny slapstick and gross humor scenes that appeal to the Jr. High crowd. However, the R rating is well deserved and much of the content is sexually explicit. Two scenes feature a common sex toy fairly prominently in some jokes and several jokes are made regarding various sexual acts. Sex is implied between an unmarried couple twice. In other sexual scenes, a man exposes himself to some ladies with self-gratification implied and, as a rather buxom mother breast feeds her child, a man pushes the child away and takes its place. Among several violent scenes, a mans thumb is graphically shot off. And foul language is considerable with almost 100 obscenities and Gods name used in vain a dozen times. Extreme sexual content, graphic violence, excessive foul language, and general shock-value comedy make ME, MYSELF & IRENE an immoral cesspool.

Preview Reviewer: John Adair
Distributor: 20th Century Fox, 10201 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035