Me, Myself & Irene (2000) is a wild, offbeat comedy directed by the Farrelly Brothers (Dumb and Dumber, There’s Something About Mary). It stars Jim Carrey in one of his most memorable dual-role performances, playing both a mild-mannered man and his aggressive alter ego. The movie mixes slapstick, absurdity, and surprisingly heartfelt moments in true Farrelly fashion.
Detailed Summary
Charlie’s Ordinary Life (and Breakdown)
Charlie Baileygates (Jim Carrey) is a sweet, good-natured Rhode Island State Trooper. He’s known for being polite, patient, and generally spineless — maybe too nice. He’s been married for years, but things take a humiliating turn when his wife, Layla, runs off with a black dwarf limo driver right after giving birth to triplets who are clearly not Charlie’s. Despite this, Charlie raises the boys as his own — and hilariously, they grow up to be brilliant, streetwise geniuses who swear like sailors.
After years of swallowing his anger and being everyone’s doormat, Charlie finally snaps. This psychological break creates an alternate personality — Hank Evans — who is everything Charlie isn’t: rude, vulgar, violent, and totally uninhibited.
Enter Irene
Charlie is assigned to escort Irene Waters (Renée Zellweger) to New York, as she’s wanted for skipping out on a traffic violation. Unbeknownst to Charlie, Irene is being pursued by corrupt cops and a powerful businessman (Dickie Thurman, played by Daniel Greene) who’s framing her for a crime.
During their road trip, Charlie’s split personalities cause chaos — he switches between gentle Charlie and the reckless, crude Hank. Hank constantly flirts with Irene and gets them into trouble, while Charlie desperately tries to maintain control.
The Chaos of Two Minds
As the journey continues, Irene starts to see Charlie’s good side — his kindness, loyalty, and the love he shows for his sons. Meanwhile, Hank’s unpredictable behavior puts both of them in danger, but also helps them survive several close encounters with the police and criminals.
There are plenty of absurd comedic moments, including Hank drinking water from a cow’s udder, Charlie fighting himself in a mirror, and a series of slapstick chases through the countryside. Beneath the humor, though, is a surprisingly touching story about identity, self-respect, and self-acceptance.
Falling in Love
Despite Hank’s interference, Irene falls for Charlie. She recognizes that Hank is just a manifestation of Charlie’s suppressed frustration — the part of him that refuses to be trampled on. Their romance develops through chaos and laughter, giving the movie its heart.
Movie Ending
In the film’s final act, Irene is kidnapped by corrupt officers working for Dickie. Charlie (and Hank) go after her, but he faces an internal struggle: Hank wants to take control permanently, while Charlie realizes he has to stand up for himself without relying on his alter ego.
Charlie finally confronts Dickie and his men, using his wits and courage instead of Hank’s aggression. In a symbolic moment, Charlie literally fights Hank — a hilarious sequence that ends with Charlie asserting dominance over his darker half. By choosing to face danger as himself, Charlie proves that he no longer needs Hank to be brave.
When Irene is rescued, the two finally confess their feelings for each other. Charlie’s split personality begins to fade, and he regains balance in his life — suggesting he’s learned to integrate Hank’s confidence without losing his decency.
In the final scene, Charlie and Irene are together, happy and free. His sons — still as hilarious and foul-mouthed as ever — show up in a homemade submarine at the beach to celebrate their dad’s new life. It’s a perfect Farrelly Brothers mix of heartfelt closure and ridiculous comedy.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
Yes, there is a short post-credits scene. After the main credits roll, Charlie’s sons surface from the water in their submarine and celebrate, shouting “We did it!” It’s a brief, funny callback to their earlier invention obsession — and a lighthearted way to end the movie.
Type of Movie
Me, Myself & Irene is a comedy and road movie with elements of romance and psychological farce. It blends slapstick humor, crude jokes, and surprisingly emotional storytelling.
Cast
- Jim Carrey as Charlie Baileygates / Hank Evans
- Renée Zellweger as Irene Waters
- Chris Cooper as Lieutenant Gerke
- Robert Forster as Colonel Partington
- Richard Jenkins as Agent Boshane
- Anthony Anderson, Jerod Mixon, and Mongo Brownlee as Charlie’s sons (Jamaal, Lee Harvey, and Shonte Jr.)
- Daniel Greene as Dickie Thurman
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Pete Yorn, who also performed several songs for the soundtrack. The film features a mix of pop and rock tracks from artists like The Offspring, Foo Fighters, and Ben Folds Five, perfectly matching its wild and irreverent tone.
Filming Locations
The movie was filmed primarily in Rhode Island and Vermont, USA. These locations were chosen for their scenic backdrops — the contrast between the quiet New England countryside and the film’s chaotic comedy works beautifully. Many of the highway and small-town scenes were shot around Burlington and Montpelier, adding authenticity to the movie’s road-trip feel.
Awards and Nominations
While the movie didn’t win major awards, Jim Carrey’s performance was widely praised for its physical comedy and energy. It received several MTV Movie Award nominations, particularly for Best Comedic Performance.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- The Farrelly Brothers originally considered a darker ending but decided to keep it comedic and uplifting.
- Jim Carrey improvised many of Hank’s lines — including some of the film’s most memorable insults.
- The cow scene was shot multiple times because Carrey kept laughing between takes.
- Carrey spent weeks studying dissociative identity disorder to bring realism to his over-the-top portrayal.
Inspirations and References
The film’s concept was loosely inspired by real cases of dissociative identity disorder, though exaggerated for comedy. It also draws on classic road-movie pairings, such as Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Midnight Run, while poking fun at the “split personality” trope in cinema.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
A few deleted scenes appear on the DVD release, including an extended introduction to Charlie’s family life and a longer cow milking sequence. There were early drafts where Hank doesn’t disappear entirely, but instead coexists peacefully within Charlie’s mind — an idea cut to simplify the ending.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The movie is not based on a book but on an original screenplay by Peter and Bobby Farrelly. However, its tone resembles the absurdist humor of satirical novels about identity and duality, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which it indirectly references.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Charlie’s breakdown and first transformation into Hank.
- The chaotic road trip with Irene, including the cow incident.
- Hank fighting Charlie in the bathroom mirror.
- Charlie finally standing up to Dickie and saving Irene.
- The submarine scene with his genius sons at the end.
Iconic Quotes
- Hank: “You can’t just walk around pretending to be a nice guy. People will walk all over you.”
- Charlie: “I’m a nice guy, but I’m not stupid.”
- Hank: “I’m what you call a schizo — technically, I’m one person split into two people.”
- Irene: “I like Charlie. He’s sweet. Hank’s… well, Hank.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The license plate on Charlie’s car reads “RHPD 1,” a nod to the Rhode Island State Police.
- The cow scene was a parody of similar animal-rescue moments in serious dramas.
- A billboard in the background of one chase scene advertises “Mary’s Hair Gel,” a sly reference to There’s Something About Mary.
Trivia
- This was Jim Carrey and the Farrelly Brothers’ first collaboration since Dumb and Dumber (1994).
- Renée Zellweger and Jim Carrey began dating during filming.
- Carrey did most of his own stunts, including several fight sequences between Charlie and Hank.
- The triplets’ dialogue was partially improvised, with Carrey reacting live to their outrageous lines.
Why Watch?
Because it’s one of Jim Carrey’s funniest and most fearless performances — a blend of manic energy, heartfelt emotion, and total absurdity. The movie balances crude humor with a surprisingly sweet love story and offers the kind of physical comedy only Carrey can pull off.
Director’s Other Movies
- Dumb and Dumber (1994)
- There’s Something About Mary (1998)
- Shallow Hal (2001)
- Fever Pitch (2005)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Liar Liar (1997)
- The Mask (1994)
- Bruce Almighty (2003)
- There’s Something About Mary (1998)
- Dumb and Dumber (1994)
