Jim Carrey has enjoyed a career spanning over 40 years, during which he has starred in a wide array of productions, from unforgettable classics to projects he might prefer to erase from memory. One such film falls into the latter category, and it’s safe to say it’s not one of his proudest moments.
In 1981 (though it wasn’t released until two years later), Carrey appeared in All in Good Taste, a film centered on an aspiring director who initially sets out to create a heartfelt story about an orphan and his dog. However, he’s forced by investors to shift the plot into something far more salacious—a film about strippers.
Known for iconic performances in The Truman Show, the series Kidding, and the blockbuster Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, Jim Carrey did not play the lead role in All in Good Taste. In fact, his screen time barely exceeds a minute, and he doesn’t utter a single line. Instead, Carrey appears as a cameraman in the film, delivering a performance notable mostly for its physicality—quite literally. His brief role involves appearing completely nude, with his backside arguably taking up more prominence than his face.
As expected, All in Good Taste failed to make an impact upon its release, fading quickly into obscurity. However, when Carrey’s career skyrocketed, the filmmakers attempted to capitalize on his fame by rereleasing the movie with promotional materials that misleadingly suggested his role was far more significant.
“A Mistake of Youth”
Unsurprisingly, Jim Carrey was not pleased with this decision. Nevertheless, he chose not to dwell on the film or give it undue attention, likely hoping it would slip from public memory. When asked about it, he dismissed it succinctly as “a mistake of youth.”
Interestingly, All in Good Taste is not the only film Carrey has distanced himself from. Years later, he publicly disowned Kick-Ass 2—but for entirely different reasons. In this case, his regret stemmed from the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, which profoundly altered his perspective on violence. He no longer felt comfortable endorsing the graphic violence depicted in the film.