The 2004 incarnation of A Series of Unfortunate Events may not have been the huge blockbuster that the studio hoped for, but it did give us Jim Carrey‘s delightfully unhinged take on the film’s nemesis, Count Olaf. Next year, Neil Patrick Harris is taking over the role of in Netflix’s adaptation of the Lemony Snicket novels. But in honor of Carrey’s performance, it’s time to take a look back at some of the excellent lost footage from his outtakes.
YouTube user Heglin has uploaded nearly 40 minutes of footage from the A Series of Unfortunate Events DVD that feature Carrey in full makeup and wardrobe as Count Olaf, while seemingly riffing his way into the character. It’s been making the rounds again this weekend, and it’s a very fun way to kill the better part of an hour!
It should be noted that in the home video release, these clips were initially released as four split-screens with switchable audio. Heglin basically zoomed in on each screen with the appropriate audio, which makes the videos a little easier to enjoy. The picture quality isn’t great, but the performance shines through.
Carrey really threw himself into the role and he even shaved his head for the part. He’s clearly having a lot of fun in this footage, and the laughter of the director and the crew is frequently heard in the background. As much as we’re eager to see Harris in this role, he’s got a lot to live up to.
What did you think about Carrey’s Count Olaf outtakes? Let us know in the comment section below!
Image: Paramount Pictures