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* NecktieLeash: Miranda and Samantha both aggressively do this to him, the former for some hot smooching, the latter for angrily convincing him to win her the case.
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* NecktieLeash: Drags Fletcher this way shortly before kissing him.
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* SmoochOfVictory: [[spoiler: Aggressively kisses Fletcher in the middle of coutt after he wins her the case]]
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* NiceGuy: Apart from being a bit antagonistic towards Fletcher, which is understandable given that he's Audrey's ex-husband, he really is a genuinely nice guy. [[spoiler:He even let Audrey and Max go after seeing that Fletcher had become a changed man to be with his family again]].
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* NiceGuy: Apart from being a bit antagonistic towards Fletcher, which is understandable given that he's Audrey's ex-husband, he Jeery really is a genuinely nice guy. [[spoiler:He even let Audrey and Max go after seeing that Fletcher had become a changed man to be with his family again]].
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* NiceGuy: Apart from being a bit of antagonistic towards Fletcher, he really is a genuinely nice guy. [[spoiler:He even let Audrey and Max go after seeing that Fletcher had become a changed man to be with his family again]].
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* NiceGuy: Apart from being a bit of antagonistic towards Fletcher, which is understandable given that he's Audrey's ex-husband, he really is a genuinely nice guy. [[spoiler:He even let Audrey and Max go after seeing that Fletcher had become a changed man to be with his family again]].
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One of Samantha's many partners who chooses to commit perjury with Samantha in order to help win the Cole case.
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One of Samantha's many partners who chooses to commit perjury with Samantha in order to help win the Cole case.case by lying that he's had a platonic relationship with her.
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* FlatCharacter: Compared to the wife he's divorcing, Samantha, not much about his character is delved into.
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* NiceGirl: She's simply trying to look nice to impress her coworkers.
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* InstantSeduction: How she quickly seduces Fletcher into having sex with her, and leads to a major make-out session.
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* InstantSeduction: How she quickly seduces Fletcher into having sex with her, and leads to a major make-out session.session, which then leads to the two sleeping together.
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* InstantSeduction: How she quickly seduces Fletcher into having sex with her.
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* InstantSeduction: How she quickly seduces Fletcher into having sex with her.her, and leads to a major make-out session.
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* TokenMinority: The only black guy in the movie.
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* TokenMinority: The only black guy in the movie.
movie with a major role. The next closest was the black lawyer speaking with Miranda about the Cole case before moving on to Fletcher.
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* KidAppealCharacter: The only main child character in the movie.
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* KidAppealCharacter: The only main child character in the movie.
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-->'''Miranda:''' How would you like to ''make'' a partner right now?
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-->'''Miranda:''' How would you like to ''make'' a partner [[DoubleEntendre partner]] right now?
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* {{Revenge}}: Following Fletcher's "I've had better" comment about the sex they just had, Miranda spends the rest of the movie trying to ruin Fletcher.
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* {{Revenge}}: Following Fletcher's "I've had better" comment about the sex they just had, Miranda spends the rest of the movie trying to ruin Fletcher.him.
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* InstantSeduction: How she quickly seduces Fletcher into having sex with her.
-->'''Miranda:''' How would you like to ''make'' a partner right now?
-->'''Miranda:''' How would you like to ''make'' a partner right now?
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Fletcher's immediate boss who prefers to have lawyers that will lie their way to win out cases. Miranda hands the Cole case over to Fletcher given his high reputation, and becomes interested in him after witnessing his skills as a compulsive liar. However, that interest turns sour the moment he speaks his first words of truth after Max's wish takes effect.
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Fletcher's immediate boss who prefers to have lawyers that will lie their way to win out cases.winning. Miranda hands the Cole case over to Fletcher given his high reputation, and becomes interested in him after witnessing his skills as a compulsive liar. However, that interest turns sour the moment he speaks his first words of truth after Max's wish takes effect.
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* NiceGuy: Honestly, Richard is everyone you would want in a loving husband. His biggest flaw appears to be that he couldn't spend enough time away from work to be with his wife and kids.
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* NiceGuy: Honestly, Richard is everyone everything you would want in a loving husband. His biggest flaw appears to be that he couldn't spend enough time away from work to be with his wife and kids.
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* {{Revenge}}: Following Fletcher's "I've had better" comment, Miranda spends the rest of the movie trying to ruin Fletcher.
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* {{Revenge}}: Following Fletcher's "I've had better" comment, comment about the sex they just had, Miranda spends the rest of the movie trying to ruin Fletcher.
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* WomanScorned: She didn't take Fletcher's "I've had better" comment very well, and leads to her hating him throughout the rest of the movie.
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* WomanScorned: She didn't take Fletcher's "I've had better" comment after they had sex very well, and leads to her hating him throughout the rest of the movie.
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* TheRival: To Fletcher as the opposing lawyer in the Cole case.
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* RefugeInAudacity: Miranda learns of his current problem and takes him to the firm's board meeting where he regretfully tells everyone the honest truth of what he thinks of them. They end up in stitches laughing, loving the no-holds barred roasting.
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* RefugeInAudacity: Miranda learns of his Fletcher's current problem and takes him to the firm's board meeting where he regretfully tells everyone the honest truth of what he thinks of them. They end up in stitches laughing, loving the no-holds barred roasting.
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* NoIndoorVoice: Pretty much any of Fletcher's pronouncements after the realization sets in, but maybe most famously: '''[[MemeticMutation STOP BREAKIN' THE LAW, ASSHOOOOOLE!]]'''
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* NoIndoorVoice: Pretty much any of Fletcher's pronouncements after the realization sets in, but maybe most famously: '''[[MemeticMutation STOP BREAKIN' THE LAW, ASSHOOOOOLE!]]'''
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The main character of the movie. Fletcher has made a career for himself at a law firm working as a lawyer who lies his way to victory. However, his career as a compulsive liar has resulted in his wife, Audrey, leaving him, and struggles to have a relationship with his son, Max. After lying about being able to make his son's birthday party, Max makes a wish on his birthday cake for just one day that his dad wouldn't be able to tell a lie, which magically comes true. As a result, Fletcher spends the day after Max's birthday unable to tell lies, and it couldn't have come at a worse time given that Fletcher has been handed to him the high-end Cole case that could finally push his career to the next level by becoming a Law Firm partner.
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The main character of the movie. Fletcher has made a career for himself at a Los Angeles law firm working as a lawyer who lies his way to victory. However, his career as a compulsive liar has resulted in his wife, Audrey, leaving him, and struggles to have a relationship with his son, Max. After lying about being able to make his son's birthday party, Max makes a wish on his birthday cake for just one day that his dad wouldn't be able to tell a lie, which magically comes true. As a result, Fletcher spends the day after Max's birthday unable to tell lies, and it couldn't have come at a worse time given that Fletcher has been handed to him the high-end Cole case that could finally push his career to the next level by becoming a Law Firm partner.
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* AccidentalTruth: After Max's wish takes effect, Fletcher is forced to say the truth even when people don't know it.
* ActuallyPrettyFunny: Once he's over the shock of spitting out the truth without thinking, Fletcher keeps chuckling over saying "I've had better" after sex with Miranda.
* AmoralAttorney: Fletcher, at first given that his character arc is him becoming a more truthful lawyer.
* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: In its purest form. [[spoiler: Fletcher and Audrey share a kiss just as Max blows out his birthday candles. They believe that Max wished for them to get back together, but it turns out that they were acting on their own free will]].
* BeneathTheMask: Being forced into BrutalHonesty makes Fletcher reveal his low opinion of his own job and co-workers, as well as his distaste for the Amoral part of being an AmoralAttorney.
* BigYes: Fletcher belts one out after [[spoiler:preventing the plane to Boston from taking off]]... followed immediately by a BigNo as [[spoiler:he crashes into a pile of traveling bags and cargo]].
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: Reede, ''Reede'', '''Reede.''' Story of his life; he finds ways to weasel out of his responsibilities and avoid punishment for his wrongdoings, and is so good at it he helps others do it for a living.
-->'''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a61gEPoL6Do Greta:]]''' Mr. Reede, several years ago a friend of mine had a burglar on her roof —- a burglar. He fell through the kitchen skylight, landed on a cutting board, on a butcher's knife, cutting his leg. The burglar sued my friend. He sued my friend and because of guys like you, ''he won.'' My friend had to pay the burglar $6,000. Is that justice?\\
'''Fletcher:''' No! ...I'd have got him ten.
** Remember, ''he can't lie''. He really ''doesn't'' understand why people would be angry at him for this kind of thing; it's his job, and the courts have found no problem with it before, so why does everyone hate him? Only when he sees an innocent man lose his children to an amoral bitch does he realize that he is using the letter of the law to subvert its spirit, and breaks down.
* BrutalHonesty: Fletcher is magically bound to tell the truth, and has very little control over his tact in telling it, making him this to his clients, to total strangers, and to himself.
* BunnyEarsLawyer: Even when acting completely insane, Fletcher is still an exceptional attorney.
* CannotTellALie: Fletcher can't even refuse to answer a question.
* CassandraTruth
-->'''Judge Stevens:''' I'll have to hear good cause, counsel. What's the problem?
-->'''Fletcher:''' (''strains'') "...'''''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis I! CAN'T! LIE!]]'''''"
-->'''Judge:''' Commendable, Mr. Reede, but I'm still waiting to hear good cause; do you have one or not?
* CharacterDevelopment: Fletcher realizes all his mistakes and becomes more sincere and careful about his relationship with his family (especially with his son) as the movie goes on.
* CoitusEnsues: With his immediate boss, Miranda.
* DeadpanSnarker: Fletcher has many of these moments towards his colleagues.
* DidIJustSayThatOutLoud: When Miranda asks Fletcher what he thought of the sex last night, he involuntarily blurts out exactly what he was thinking. Afterwards he can hardly believe he just did that: "... ''I've had better??''"
* DiggingYourselfDeeper: This is what leads to Fletcher getting slapped in the elevator.
* DivorceIsTemporary: [[spoiler:Fletcher and Audrey share a kiss in the final scene, at Max's sixth birthday party. They of course ask their son if he made another birthday wish to cause them to get back together - and he replies that he wished for roller blades, meaning Audrey and Fletcher's romance is rekindling on its own.]]
* DrivesLikeCrazy: Fletcher when trying to get home after learning Audrey is going to move. "I'm an inconsiderate prick!"
* EurekaMoment: [[spoiler:Right when the case seems lost, Fletcher's client makes an off-hand remark about her age. This turns the case upside down.]]
** As well when Audrey tells Fletcher about what Max wished for the previous night.
** Although it doesn't work, Fletcher gets the idea to make it look like he was attacked in the bathroom (as to post-pone the trial) after [[HeadDesk banging his head on the wall]] too hard.
-->'''Fletcher:''' Owie! ... (turns to a mirror) '''''OWIE!'''''
* EvilHand: In the Blue Pen scene (which is not red).
* ExactWords: Fletcher can't use them, but he can be caught by anyone ''else'' using them. As it says elsewhere on this page, not only can he not lie, but he can't even evade the truth, deceive while remaining silent or choose not to answer. Several times he gets into trouble because he is asked a question which he could have given a better answer to if the other person had just happened to phrase it differently.
* FaceFault: Fletcher has many of these. Only JimCarrey can get away with doing one in live-action and make it look funny.
* FalseReassurance: Fletcher manages to pull this off once, though. In order to get an extension on the trial without lying he beats himself up in the bathroom, stumbles into the court and truthfully describes his attacker (himself).
* FirstFatherWins: In the end, Fletcher gets his family back together.
* FrivolousLawsuit: Fletcher's current case isn't one (although it is fraudulent), but he isn't against taking cases like this:
-->'''Greta:''' Mr. Reede, several years ago a friend of mine had a burglar on her roof, a burglar. He fell through the kitchen skylight, landed on a cutting board, on a butcher's knife, cutting his leg. The burglar sued my friend, he sued my friend. And because of men like you, he ''won''. My friend had to pay the burglar $6,000. Is that justice?
-->'''Fletcher:''' No! [{{beat}}] I'd have got him ten.
* {{Gasshole}}: "It was me!" [[spoiler: as Fletcher retreats from an elevator whose other passengers are holding their noses and looking daggers at him.]]
* GenreSavvy: While Fletcher can't lie, he realizes that he can tell the truth in a deceptive way. The WoundedGazelleGambit he attempts below shows his sole attempt at this.
* HandshakeRefusal: DoubleSubversion. When Mr. Allan offers to make Fletcher a partner at his law firm, a stunned Fletcher accepts and shakes his hand briefly, but then jerks his hand away after his HeelRealization.
* {{Headdesk}}: Fletcher ends up having this moment when it looks like he's failing to win the Cole case.
* HeelRealization: "Lemme tell ''you'' somethin'! ''I'm a bad father!'' ... I mean... [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone I'm a bad father]]..."
** He actually has two of them, the first one above regarding his personal life, the second regarding his professional one when [[spoiler: he wins the case for Mrs. Cole and realizes how horrible she truly is when she won't even let her ex-husband say goodbye to his kids. Needless to say he's rather horrified by his actions]]. Also, the people he was sucking up to make partners only saw the kids as legal leverage leaves him downright disgusted.
*** The second one hits him really hard. At the beginning, she agreed to sharing custody with the father, saying he's a good father. Aside from her infidelity, she seems to be much more pleasant at the beginning, and Fletcher realizes the much more unpleasant Mrs. Cole at the end was at least partially his fault.
* HurricaneOfEuphemisms: "You slammed her! You dunked her doughnut! You gave her dog a Snausage! ''YOU STUFFED HER LIKE A THANKSGIVING TURKEY!''" [Makes gobbling noises]
* IgnoringBySinging: Fletcher knows he is cursed to speak the truth when answering a question, but not if he can't hear the question!
* InsultBackfire: Fletcher hurls a metric ton of verbal abuse at his boss who finds it hilarious. He then goes all the way and insults everyone in the room who all laugh at his insults, thinking it's a [[TheRoast roast]].
* HumiliationConga: A passerby giving Fletcher money as he sags despondently on the courthouse steps following his self-inflicted beatdown.
* KickingMyOwnButt: Fletcher beats himself up in the bathroom in a last-ditch effort to get the court case postponed. He [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] it when someone walks in on him doing the act.
* LargeHam: Jim Carrey, of course. The amount of over-the-top actions performed for this character is just nuts.
* LiteralMinded: Max's wish forces Fletcher to either be literal about almost everything, or specify that he's ''not'' being literal. For example, Fletcher calls his boss "a worthless steaming pile of cow dung" and has to add on the tag "figuratively speaking," and when a homeless man asks Fletcher if he ''can'' spare some change, Fletcher has to answer "Yes, I could." When the homeless man asks if he ''will'' spare some, Fletcher is able to say no.
* LongList: When Fletcher is stopped after reckless driving...
-->'''Officer:''' You know why I pulled you over?\\
'''Fletcher:''' Depends on how long you were following me! [winces] \\
'''Officer:''' Why don't we just take it from the top?\\
'''Fletcher:''' [sighs] Here goes...I sped, I followed too closely, I ran a stop sign, I almost hit a Chevy, I sped some more, I failed to yield at a crosswalk, I changed lanes at the intersection, I changed lanes without signaling ''while running a red light'' '''and speeding'''!\\
'''Officer''': Is that all?\\
'''Fletcher''': [groaning] No... [gestures with his eyes; when the cop doesn't get it, says] I have unpaid parking tickets. [Opens his glove compartment and there are so many tickets they spill out; whimpers] Be gentle.
* LoopholeAbuse: The film plays with this back and forth. On the one hand, sometimes Fletcher is able to tell the truth in a roundabout way; when he beats himself up and the Judge asks who did it, Fletcher gives a physical description of himself rather than just say he did it himself. He also seems able to say things that may or may not be true, but he ''believes'' to be true. On the other hand when it comes time to rehearse Falk's testimony, he discovers he can't ask a question if he knows Falk will lie about it. During the trial he does manage to get the questions out a couple times, but can't help himself from immediately objecting to himself. Additionally, Fletcher is compelled to answer direct questions, denying the chance for him to just not give an answer, truth or lie.
* MadnessMantra: THE PEN IS '''BLUE.''' THE PEN IS '''BLUE!''' THE '''GODDAMN''' PEN IS '''''BLUE!!'''''
* MaleGaze: Fletcher in the elevator scene.
* MarriedToTheJob: Fletcher towards his Law Firm.
* MeaningfulName: "Fletcher Reede". A fletcher is an arrowsmith, while a reed of course, is the wetland plant. The two play into Fletcher being a crooked lawyer as opposed to a "straight arrow".
* MotorMouth: See LongList.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Fletcher has two. One when he realizes how he's functionally ruined his relationship with his son, and a second when he realizes that his lies from the previous day have turned Mrs. Cole into a petty, vengeful ex-wife.
* OrganAutonomy: When Fletcher performs THE CLAW on Max.
* PrinciplesZealot: Essentially, this is the result of the wish--Fletcher is an unwilling zealot, admittedly, but his behavior matches a classic comedic PrinciplesZealot pretty closely.
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: "'''''[[LargeHam I! CAN'T! LIE!]]'''''"
* RaceForYourLove: Interesting version - it's a father's love for his son that's being raced for here.
* TheRoast: Fletcher ends doing this to a room full of executives once his boss finds his insults hilarious.
* SarcasticConfession: When forced to tell the senior partners what he really thinks of them, [[RefugeInAudacity he saves himself from near-certain firing]] when the chairman thinks he's being roasted and starts laughing.
* SelfDeprecation / LampshadeHanging:
-->'''Max:''' If I keep making this face (makes a face) will it get stuck that way?\\
'''Fletcher:''' Not in a million years--in fact, some people make a good living that way.
* ShockinglyExpensiveBill: Fletcher's unpaid [[ParkingProblems parking tickets]] come to $1654.11.
* ShutUpKirk: PlayedForLaughs since Fletcher does this to ''himself!''
--> '''Fletcher''': What's wrong with me?! ''(suddenly monotone)'' I'm getting what I deserve. I'm reaping what I sow, I--''(claps both hands heavily over his mouth, while involuntarily ranting)''
* SleepingTheirWayToTheTop: Fletcher sleeps with Miranda, his (female, good-looking) immediate boss in the hopes that it'll help further his career to finally make partner. His son's birthday wish takes effect at exactly the wrong time...
* SleepingWithTheBoss: Fletcher is sleeping with his boss — until the wish comes into effect and he makes a truthful (and uncomplimentary) comment about the sex they just had.
* SpitTake: Reede does an over-the-top one right before his ThatWasObjectionable moment.
* StealthInsult: See SarcasticConfession.
* ThatWasObjectionable:
-->'''Fletcher''': Your honor, I object!\\
'''Judge''': And why is that, Mr. Reede?\\
'''Fletcher''': Because it's devastating to my case!\\
'''Judge''': Overruled.\\
'''Fletcher''': Good call!
* TongueTied: Fletcher's tongue gets tied into telling the truth whenever he starts to tell a lie.
* TooMuchInformation: When the judge asks Fletcher how he's doing this morning, Fletcher replies with, "I'm a little upset about a bad sexual episode last night."
--> '''Judge''': [[DeadpanSnarker Well, you're still young. It'll happen more and more.]] In the meantime, what do you say we get down to business?
** One of the reasons Fletcher doesn't want to talk to his mother on the phone:
--> '''Fletcher''': ''(on phone)'' Hello? Mom! Hi! I wasn't really on vacation. (...) Because I didn't want to talk to you! (...) Because you insist on talking about Dad's bowel movements: Size, color, frequency!
* TruthSerum: Unable to lie due to Max's wish.
* TheUnfairSex: Parodied. Samantha ReallyGetsAround, but Fletcher convinces her that she was "driven into the arms of another man." Meanwhile, Fletcher has pretty much lost his son as a result of his own infidelity.
-->'''Audrey:''' You forget that when we were married, I wasn't having sex nearly as often as you were.
* VolleyingInsults: Fletcher vs. Dana during the case.
* WhamLine: Fletcher manages the rare feat of delivering one to himself, courtesy of the truth-telling curse.
--> '''Fletcher:''' (angry) Now you listen to me - I'm a bad father! I... I mean... (horrified) I'm a bad father...
* WomensMysteries: Inverted - Fletcher uses men's mysteries to get a recess in the court, citing a link between a full bladder and male prostate issues and counting on the judge not knowing whether this is medically accurate or not. PlayedForLaughs when the judge asks if that's true (to which a bewildered - and still forced to tell the truth - Fletcher responds, "It ''has'' to be!").
* WoundedGazelleGambit: Fletcher beats the ever-living crap out of himself in the bathroom so that the court session could be postponed. When asked who did it, he describes the assailant-himself-as "A madman, your honor! A desperate fool on the end of his pitiful rope!" Still, Fletcher's scheme fails when he's forced to admit that he still feels physically able to continue with the case.
--> '''Fletcher:''' About 6'2'', 180 pounds, big teeth, kinda gangly. ''[closes mouth to cover teeth]''
* YourCheatingHeart: Strongly implied to be at least partly responsible for ending Fletcher and Audrey's marriage.
-->'''Audrey:''' You forget that when we were married, I wasn't having sex nearly as often as you were.
* ActuallyPrettyFunny: Once he's over the shock of spitting out the truth without thinking, Fletcher keeps chuckling over saying "I've had better" after sex with Miranda.
* AmoralAttorney: Fletcher, at first given that his character arc is him becoming a more truthful lawyer.
* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: In its purest form. [[spoiler: Fletcher and Audrey share a kiss just as Max blows out his birthday candles. They believe that Max wished for them to get back together, but it turns out that they were acting on their own free will]].
* BeneathTheMask: Being forced into BrutalHonesty makes Fletcher reveal his low opinion of his own job and co-workers, as well as his distaste for the Amoral part of being an AmoralAttorney.
* BigYes: Fletcher belts one out after [[spoiler:preventing the plane to Boston from taking off]]... followed immediately by a BigNo as [[spoiler:he crashes into a pile of traveling bags and cargo]].
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: Reede, ''Reede'', '''Reede.''' Story of his life; he finds ways to weasel out of his responsibilities and avoid punishment for his wrongdoings, and is so good at it he helps others do it for a living.
-->'''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a61gEPoL6Do Greta:]]''' Mr. Reede, several years ago a friend of mine had a burglar on her roof —- a burglar. He fell through the kitchen skylight, landed on a cutting board, on a butcher's knife, cutting his leg. The burglar sued my friend. He sued my friend and because of guys like you, ''he won.'' My friend had to pay the burglar $6,000. Is that justice?\\
'''Fletcher:''' No! ...I'd have got him ten.
** Remember, ''he can't lie''. He really ''doesn't'' understand why people would be angry at him for this kind of thing; it's his job, and the courts have found no problem with it before, so why does everyone hate him? Only when he sees an innocent man lose his children to an amoral bitch does he realize that he is using the letter of the law to subvert its spirit, and breaks down.
* BrutalHonesty: Fletcher is magically bound to tell the truth, and has very little control over his tact in telling it, making him this to his clients, to total strangers, and to himself.
* BunnyEarsLawyer: Even when acting completely insane, Fletcher is still an exceptional attorney.
* CannotTellALie: Fletcher can't even refuse to answer a question.
* CassandraTruth
-->'''Judge Stevens:''' I'll have to hear good cause, counsel. What's the problem?
-->'''Fletcher:''' (''strains'') "...'''''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis I! CAN'T! LIE!]]'''''"
-->'''Judge:''' Commendable, Mr. Reede, but I'm still waiting to hear good cause; do you have one or not?
* CharacterDevelopment: Fletcher realizes all his mistakes and becomes more sincere and careful about his relationship with his family (especially with his son) as the movie goes on.
* CoitusEnsues: With his immediate boss, Miranda.
* DeadpanSnarker: Fletcher has many of these moments towards his colleagues.
* DidIJustSayThatOutLoud: When Miranda asks Fletcher what he thought of the sex last night, he involuntarily blurts out exactly what he was thinking. Afterwards he can hardly believe he just did that: "... ''I've had better??''"
* DiggingYourselfDeeper: This is what leads to Fletcher getting slapped in the elevator.
* DivorceIsTemporary: [[spoiler:Fletcher and Audrey share a kiss in the final scene, at Max's sixth birthday party. They of course ask their son if he made another birthday wish to cause them to get back together - and he replies that he wished for roller blades, meaning Audrey and Fletcher's romance is rekindling on its own.]]
* DrivesLikeCrazy: Fletcher when trying to get home after learning Audrey is going to move. "I'm an inconsiderate prick!"
* EurekaMoment: [[spoiler:Right when the case seems lost, Fletcher's client makes an off-hand remark about her age. This turns the case upside down.]]
** As well when Audrey tells Fletcher about what Max wished for the previous night.
** Although it doesn't work, Fletcher gets the idea to make it look like he was attacked in the bathroom (as to post-pone the trial) after [[HeadDesk banging his head on the wall]] too hard.
-->'''Fletcher:''' Owie! ... (turns to a mirror) '''''OWIE!'''''
* EvilHand: In the Blue Pen scene (which is not red).
* ExactWords: Fletcher can't use them, but he can be caught by anyone ''else'' using them. As it says elsewhere on this page, not only can he not lie, but he can't even evade the truth, deceive while remaining silent or choose not to answer. Several times he gets into trouble because he is asked a question which he could have given a better answer to if the other person had just happened to phrase it differently.
* FaceFault: Fletcher has many of these. Only JimCarrey can get away with doing one in live-action and make it look funny.
* FalseReassurance: Fletcher manages to pull this off once, though. In order to get an extension on the trial without lying he beats himself up in the bathroom, stumbles into the court and truthfully describes his attacker (himself).
* FirstFatherWins: In the end, Fletcher gets his family back together.
* FrivolousLawsuit: Fletcher's current case isn't one (although it is fraudulent), but he isn't against taking cases like this:
-->'''Greta:''' Mr. Reede, several years ago a friend of mine had a burglar on her roof, a burglar. He fell through the kitchen skylight, landed on a cutting board, on a butcher's knife, cutting his leg. The burglar sued my friend, he sued my friend. And because of men like you, he ''won''. My friend had to pay the burglar $6,000. Is that justice?
-->'''Fletcher:''' No! [{{beat}}] I'd have got him ten.
* {{Gasshole}}: "It was me!" [[spoiler: as Fletcher retreats from an elevator whose other passengers are holding their noses and looking daggers at him.]]
* GenreSavvy: While Fletcher can't lie, he realizes that he can tell the truth in a deceptive way. The WoundedGazelleGambit he attempts below shows his sole attempt at this.
* HandshakeRefusal: DoubleSubversion. When Mr. Allan offers to make Fletcher a partner at his law firm, a stunned Fletcher accepts and shakes his hand briefly, but then jerks his hand away after his HeelRealization.
* {{Headdesk}}: Fletcher ends up having this moment when it looks like he's failing to win the Cole case.
* HeelRealization: "Lemme tell ''you'' somethin'! ''I'm a bad father!'' ... I mean... [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone I'm a bad father]]..."
** He actually has two of them, the first one above regarding his personal life, the second regarding his professional one when [[spoiler: he wins the case for Mrs. Cole and realizes how horrible she truly is when she won't even let her ex-husband say goodbye to his kids. Needless to say he's rather horrified by his actions]]. Also, the people he was sucking up to make partners only saw the kids as legal leverage leaves him downright disgusted.
*** The second one hits him really hard. At the beginning, she agreed to sharing custody with the father, saying he's a good father. Aside from her infidelity, she seems to be much more pleasant at the beginning, and Fletcher realizes the much more unpleasant Mrs. Cole at the end was at least partially his fault.
* HurricaneOfEuphemisms: "You slammed her! You dunked her doughnut! You gave her dog a Snausage! ''YOU STUFFED HER LIKE A THANKSGIVING TURKEY!''" [Makes gobbling noises]
* IgnoringBySinging: Fletcher knows he is cursed to speak the truth when answering a question, but not if he can't hear the question!
* InsultBackfire: Fletcher hurls a metric ton of verbal abuse at his boss who finds it hilarious. He then goes all the way and insults everyone in the room who all laugh at his insults, thinking it's a [[TheRoast roast]].
* HumiliationConga: A passerby giving Fletcher money as he sags despondently on the courthouse steps following his self-inflicted beatdown.
* KickingMyOwnButt: Fletcher beats himself up in the bathroom in a last-ditch effort to get the court case postponed. He [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] it when someone walks in on him doing the act.
* LargeHam: Jim Carrey, of course. The amount of over-the-top actions performed for this character is just nuts.
* LiteralMinded: Max's wish forces Fletcher to either be literal about almost everything, or specify that he's ''not'' being literal. For example, Fletcher calls his boss "a worthless steaming pile of cow dung" and has to add on the tag "figuratively speaking," and when a homeless man asks Fletcher if he ''can'' spare some change, Fletcher has to answer "Yes, I could." When the homeless man asks if he ''will'' spare some, Fletcher is able to say no.
* LongList: When Fletcher is stopped after reckless driving...
-->'''Officer:''' You know why I pulled you over?\\
'''Fletcher:''' Depends on how long you were following me! [winces] \\
'''Officer:''' Why don't we just take it from the top?\\
'''Fletcher:''' [sighs] Here goes...I sped, I followed too closely, I ran a stop sign, I almost hit a Chevy, I sped some more, I failed to yield at a crosswalk, I changed lanes at the intersection, I changed lanes without signaling ''while running a red light'' '''and speeding'''!\\
'''Officer''': Is that all?\\
'''Fletcher''': [groaning] No... [gestures with his eyes; when the cop doesn't get it, says] I have unpaid parking tickets. [Opens his glove compartment and there are so many tickets they spill out; whimpers] Be gentle.
* LoopholeAbuse: The film plays with this back and forth. On the one hand, sometimes Fletcher is able to tell the truth in a roundabout way; when he beats himself up and the Judge asks who did it, Fletcher gives a physical description of himself rather than just say he did it himself. He also seems able to say things that may or may not be true, but he ''believes'' to be true. On the other hand when it comes time to rehearse Falk's testimony, he discovers he can't ask a question if he knows Falk will lie about it. During the trial he does manage to get the questions out a couple times, but can't help himself from immediately objecting to himself. Additionally, Fletcher is compelled to answer direct questions, denying the chance for him to just not give an answer, truth or lie.
* MadnessMantra: THE PEN IS '''BLUE.''' THE PEN IS '''BLUE!''' THE '''GODDAMN''' PEN IS '''''BLUE!!'''''
* MaleGaze: Fletcher in the elevator scene.
* MarriedToTheJob: Fletcher towards his Law Firm.
* MeaningfulName: "Fletcher Reede". A fletcher is an arrowsmith, while a reed of course, is the wetland plant. The two play into Fletcher being a crooked lawyer as opposed to a "straight arrow".
* MotorMouth: See LongList.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Fletcher has two. One when he realizes how he's functionally ruined his relationship with his son, and a second when he realizes that his lies from the previous day have turned Mrs. Cole into a petty, vengeful ex-wife.
* OrganAutonomy: When Fletcher performs THE CLAW on Max.
* PrinciplesZealot: Essentially, this is the result of the wish--Fletcher is an unwilling zealot, admittedly, but his behavior matches a classic comedic PrinciplesZealot pretty closely.
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: "'''''[[LargeHam I! CAN'T! LIE!]]'''''"
* RaceForYourLove: Interesting version - it's a father's love for his son that's being raced for here.
* TheRoast: Fletcher ends doing this to a room full of executives once his boss finds his insults hilarious.
* SarcasticConfession: When forced to tell the senior partners what he really thinks of them, [[RefugeInAudacity he saves himself from near-certain firing]] when the chairman thinks he's being roasted and starts laughing.
* SelfDeprecation / LampshadeHanging:
-->'''Max:''' If I keep making this face (makes a face) will it get stuck that way?\\
'''Fletcher:''' Not in a million years--in fact, some people make a good living that way.
* ShockinglyExpensiveBill: Fletcher's unpaid [[ParkingProblems parking tickets]] come to $1654.11.
* ShutUpKirk: PlayedForLaughs since Fletcher does this to ''himself!''
--> '''Fletcher''': What's wrong with me?! ''(suddenly monotone)'' I'm getting what I deserve. I'm reaping what I sow, I--''(claps both hands heavily over his mouth, while involuntarily ranting)''
* SleepingTheirWayToTheTop: Fletcher sleeps with Miranda, his (female, good-looking) immediate boss in the hopes that it'll help further his career to finally make partner. His son's birthday wish takes effect at exactly the wrong time...
* SleepingWithTheBoss: Fletcher is sleeping with his boss — until the wish comes into effect and he makes a truthful (and uncomplimentary) comment about the sex they just had.
* SpitTake: Reede does an over-the-top one right before his ThatWasObjectionable moment.
* StealthInsult: See SarcasticConfession.
* ThatWasObjectionable:
-->'''Fletcher''': Your honor, I object!\\
'''Judge''': And why is that, Mr. Reede?\\
'''Fletcher''': Because it's devastating to my case!\\
'''Judge''': Overruled.\\
'''Fletcher''': Good call!
* TongueTied: Fletcher's tongue gets tied into telling the truth whenever he starts to tell a lie.
* TooMuchInformation: When the judge asks Fletcher how he's doing this morning, Fletcher replies with, "I'm a little upset about a bad sexual episode last night."
--> '''Judge''': [[DeadpanSnarker Well, you're still young. It'll happen more and more.]] In the meantime, what do you say we get down to business?
** One of the reasons Fletcher doesn't want to talk to his mother on the phone:
--> '''Fletcher''': ''(on phone)'' Hello? Mom! Hi! I wasn't really on vacation. (...) Because I didn't want to talk to you! (...) Because you insist on talking about Dad's bowel movements: Size, color, frequency!
* TruthSerum: Unable to lie due to Max's wish.
* TheUnfairSex: Parodied. Samantha ReallyGetsAround, but Fletcher convinces her that she was "driven into the arms of another man." Meanwhile, Fletcher has pretty much lost his son as a result of his own infidelity.
-->'''Audrey:''' You forget that when we were married, I wasn't having sex nearly as often as you were.
* VolleyingInsults: Fletcher vs. Dana during the case.
* WhamLine: Fletcher manages the rare feat of delivering one to himself, courtesy of the truth-telling curse.
--> '''Fletcher:''' (angry) Now you listen to me - I'm a bad father! I... I mean... (horrified) I'm a bad father...
* WomensMysteries: Inverted - Fletcher uses men's mysteries to get a recess in the court, citing a link between a full bladder and male prostate issues and counting on the judge not knowing whether this is medically accurate or not. PlayedForLaughs when the judge asks if that's true (to which a bewildered - and still forced to tell the truth - Fletcher responds, "It ''has'' to be!").
* WoundedGazelleGambit: Fletcher beats the ever-living crap out of himself in the bathroom so that the court session could be postponed. When asked who did it, he describes the assailant-himself-as "A madman, your honor! A desperate fool on the end of his pitiful rope!" Still, Fletcher's scheme fails when he's forced to admit that he still feels physically able to continue with the case.
--> '''Fletcher:''' About 6'2'', 180 pounds, big teeth, kinda gangly. ''[closes mouth to cover teeth]''
* YourCheatingHeart: Strongly implied to be at least partly responsible for ending Fletcher and Audrey's marriage.
-->'''Audrey:''' You forget that when we were married, I wasn't having sex nearly as often as you were.
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* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: In its purest form. [[spoiler: Fletcher and Audrey share a kiss just as Max blows out his birthday candles. They believe that Max wished for them to get back together, but it turns out that they were acting on their own free will]].
* DivorceIsTemporary: [[spoiler:Fletcher and Audrey share a kiss in the final scene, at Max's sixth birthday party. They of course ask their son if he made another birthday wish to cause them to get back together - and he replies that he wished for roller blades, meaning Audrey and Fletcher's romance is rekindling on its own.]]
* TakingTheKids: Fletcher is in danger of losing his own son if Audrey decides to move to Boston with Jerry. [[spoiler:In the end, she doesn't.]]
* DivorceIsTemporary: [[spoiler:Fletcher and Audrey share a kiss in the final scene, at Max's sixth birthday party. They of course ask their son if he made another birthday wish to cause them to get back together - and he replies that he wished for roller blades, meaning Audrey and Fletcher's romance is rekindling on its own.]]
* TakingTheKids: Fletcher is in danger of losing his own son if Audrey decides to move to Boston with Jerry. [[spoiler:In the end, she doesn't.]]
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* WhenYouComingHomeDad: Basically what pushed Max to the put of making the birthday wish due to his father being unable to attend his birthday party.
* KidAppealCharacter: The only main child character in the movie.
* KidAppealCharacter: The only main child character in the movie.
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* TensionCuttingLaughter: Mr. Allen misinterprets Fletcher's BrutalHonesty as a roast.
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* AmoralAttorney: Miranda's EstablishingCharacterMoment is to make it clear she prefers this from her workers -- her second line of dialogue is "let the judge decide what's true or not, that's what he gets paid for; ''you'' get paid to win".
* CoitusEnsues: Miranda instantly becomes attracted to Fletcher after witnessing how good of a liar he is, and decides to sleep with him just a moment after.
* {{Corpsing}}: Miranda laughs during Fletcher's Tina Turner speech when he's speaking to Samantha Cole.
* InsultBackfire: [[GoneHorriblyWrong Backfires]] for Miranda. She was out for revenge after Fletcher told her, "I've had better." When she realized he was incapable of lying, she throws him in front of the committee in hopes that his BrutalHonesty would ruin him.
* RefugeInAudacity: Miranda learns of his current problem and takes him to the firm's board meeting where he regretfully tells everyone the honest truth of what he thinks of them. They end up in stitches laughing, loving the no-holds barred roasting.
* {{Revenge}}: Following Fletcher's "I've had better" comment, Miranda spends the rest of the movie trying to ruin Fletcher.
* ShesGotLegs: Shows them off when she watches Fletcher discuss the Cole case with Samantha.
* WomanScorned: She didn't take Fletcher's "I've had better" comment very well, and leads to her hating him throughout the rest of the movie.
* CoitusEnsues: Miranda instantly becomes attracted to Fletcher after witnessing how good of a liar he is, and decides to sleep with him just a moment after.
* {{Corpsing}}: Miranda laughs during Fletcher's Tina Turner speech when he's speaking to Samantha Cole.
* InsultBackfire: [[GoneHorriblyWrong Backfires]] for Miranda. She was out for revenge after Fletcher told her, "I've had better." When she realized he was incapable of lying, she throws him in front of the committee in hopes that his BrutalHonesty would ruin him.
* RefugeInAudacity: Miranda learns of his current problem and takes him to the firm's board meeting where he regretfully tells everyone the honest truth of what he thinks of them. They end up in stitches laughing, loving the no-holds barred roasting.
* {{Revenge}}: Following Fletcher's "I've had better" comment, Miranda spends the rest of the movie trying to ruin Fletcher.
* ShesGotLegs: Shows them off when she watches Fletcher discuss the Cole case with Samantha.
* WomanScorned: She didn't take Fletcher's "I've had better" comment very well, and leads to her hating him throughout the rest of the movie.
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* CoolOldLady: To the point that she takes care of Max's gift for Fletcher. She also gives Fletcher the middle finger after Fletcher spills the truth that he's been cheap with her, and refused to give her a raise in money.
* DeadpanSnarker: Leaves a funny comment whenever Fletcher does or says something crazy.
* FlippingTheBird: "Here's your raise!"
* DeadpanSnarker: Leaves a funny comment whenever Fletcher does or says something crazy.
* FlippingTheBird: "Here's your raise!"
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* AnimeHair: Her odd hair-style.
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* FanserviceExtra: Let's be honest, people mostly remember her only for being MsFanservice.
* FreudianSlipperySlope:
-->'''Woman''': Everybody's been real nice.
-->'''Fletcher''': Well, that's because you have big jugs! I mean...your boobs are huge! I mean, I want to squeeze them.....mama! ''(puckers up)''
* GagBoobs: Basically what makes this scene so famous since the Elevator Woman is the beautiful Krista Allen.
* FreudianSlipperySlope:
-->'''Woman''': Everybody's been real nice.
-->'''Fletcher''': Well, that's because you have big jugs! I mean...your boobs are huge! I mean, I want to squeeze them.....mama! ''(puckers up)''
* GagBoobs: Basically what makes this scene so famous since the Elevator Woman is the beautiful Krista Allen.
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* BigGood: The judge residing over the Cole case.
* TokenMinority: The only black guy in the movie.
* TokenMinority: The only black guy in the movie.
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* CharacterDevelopment: A minor change happens early where Fletcher's Tina Turner speech gives Samantha enough confidence to take Richard on in the Cole case. Could also argue that the speech is what really turns Samantha into a GoldDigger.
* CheatingWithTheMilkman: If you listen closely to the "sex tape" you can hear the man Samantha Cole is having sex with say "I have to go clean the pool."
* DiabolusExMachina: Instigated by Fletcher himself, no less. His last-minute discovery that Mrs. Cole [[spoiler:was underaged when she got married, invalidating her pre-nup but leaving the common-law marriage intact]] ends up unduly costing an innocent man half his assets.[[note]]We might say it could cost a loving father custody of his children too, but Mrs. Cole had already demonstrated herself in court to be an unfaithful wife and an absolutely ''horrible'' mother, so at least she likely won't get full or even partial custody without Fletcher representing her anymore. Plus, the husband could always appeal against the decision given the point about the pre nup being voidable but not void. After Mrs. Cole turned 18, she had a limited amount of time to render the contract void but she never did, so the pre nup and marriage are valid and the judge's ruling erred from the law. The husband would get his assets back having proved adultery and could use the money as leverage for joint custody or even sole custody for himself.[[/note]]
* GagBoobs: Mrs. Cole is played by Creator/JenniferTilly, who has quite a pair.
* GoldDigger: What Samantha turns out to be trying to win the martial assets from her husband, Richard.
* TheImmodestOrgasm: Mrs Cole, revealed by her "sex tape".
* KarmaHoudini: Mrs. Cole has cheated on her husband several times, it's hinted that she's not completely sure both her children are her husband's, and after Fletcher convinces her she's the victim, she becomes a complete {{Jerkass}} who uses her children for emotional gain in court. [[spoiler:And thanks to a technicality ''no one'' saw coming, she wins the case and gets the standard divorce settlement of half her husband's assets, over 10 million dollars, ''and'' decides to sue for sole custody of the kids to get even more money in child support and deny her husband the right to them.]] Her getting away with all this is actually a major plot point, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone when Fletcher realizes it's his fault she was able to do all this and succeed]].
* KickTheDog: After the judge rules in Samantha Cole's favor and grants her '''11 million dollars,''' she then declares that she isn't going to adhere to their original deal to share custody, and instead plans to contest custody to get another $10,000 from him. She specifically says she's doing this just to hit him where it hurts.
* OffOnATechnicality: [[spoiler:How Fletcher wins the trial due to Samantha being underage when she became married. He even cites it.]]
* ReallyGetsAround:
-->'''Fletcher''': After all that, your husband wants to deny you a fair and equitable share of the marital assets based on one single act of indiscretion.\\
'''Mrs. Cole''': Seven.\\
'''Fletcher''': Pardon me?
* ReallySeventeenYearsOld: [[spoiler:Fletcher discovers that Mrs. Cole lied about her age when she got married, rendering the prenuptial and the original marriage contract void, but leaving her still entitled to half her (ex)husband's wealth as they had lived together long enough to be considered common-law married anyways.]]
* ShesGotLegs: The first moment the camera is on Samantha, she's showing off her legs.
* TakingTheKids: Samantha insists on taking the kids from their loving father not because she cares about them but because she can use them to milk him for child support payments.
* YourCheatingHeart: One of the main conflicts between the Coles due to Samantha being a ReallyGetsAround GoldDigger.
* CheatingWithTheMilkman: If you listen closely to the "sex tape" you can hear the man Samantha Cole is having sex with say "I have to go clean the pool."
* DiabolusExMachina: Instigated by Fletcher himself, no less. His last-minute discovery that Mrs. Cole [[spoiler:was underaged when she got married, invalidating her pre-nup but leaving the common-law marriage intact]] ends up unduly costing an innocent man half his assets.[[note]]We might say it could cost a loving father custody of his children too, but Mrs. Cole had already demonstrated herself in court to be an unfaithful wife and an absolutely ''horrible'' mother, so at least she likely won't get full or even partial custody without Fletcher representing her anymore. Plus, the husband could always appeal against the decision given the point about the pre nup being voidable but not void. After Mrs. Cole turned 18, she had a limited amount of time to render the contract void but she never did, so the pre nup and marriage are valid and the judge's ruling erred from the law. The husband would get his assets back having proved adultery and could use the money as leverage for joint custody or even sole custody for himself.[[/note]]
* GagBoobs: Mrs. Cole is played by Creator/JenniferTilly, who has quite a pair.
* GoldDigger: What Samantha turns out to be trying to win the martial assets from her husband, Richard.
* TheImmodestOrgasm: Mrs Cole, revealed by her "sex tape".
* KarmaHoudini: Mrs. Cole has cheated on her husband several times, it's hinted that she's not completely sure both her children are her husband's, and after Fletcher convinces her she's the victim, she becomes a complete {{Jerkass}} who uses her children for emotional gain in court. [[spoiler:And thanks to a technicality ''no one'' saw coming, she wins the case and gets the standard divorce settlement of half her husband's assets, over 10 million dollars, ''and'' decides to sue for sole custody of the kids to get even more money in child support and deny her husband the right to them.]] Her getting away with all this is actually a major plot point, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone when Fletcher realizes it's his fault she was able to do all this and succeed]].
* KickTheDog: After the judge rules in Samantha Cole's favor and grants her '''11 million dollars,''' she then declares that she isn't going to adhere to their original deal to share custody, and instead plans to contest custody to get another $10,000 from him. She specifically says she's doing this just to hit him where it hurts.
* OffOnATechnicality: [[spoiler:How Fletcher wins the trial due to Samantha being underage when she became married. He even cites it.]]
* ReallyGetsAround:
-->'''Fletcher''': After all that, your husband wants to deny you a fair and equitable share of the marital assets based on one single act of indiscretion.\\
'''Mrs. Cole''': Seven.\\
'''Fletcher''': Pardon me?
* ReallySeventeenYearsOld: [[spoiler:Fletcher discovers that Mrs. Cole lied about her age when she got married, rendering the prenuptial and the original marriage contract void, but leaving her still entitled to half her (ex)husband's wealth as they had lived together long enough to be considered common-law married anyways.]]
* ShesGotLegs: The first moment the camera is on Samantha, she's showing off her legs.
* TakingTheKids: Samantha insists on taking the kids from their loving father not because she cares about them but because she can use them to milk him for child support payments.
* YourCheatingHeart: One of the main conflicts between the Coles due to Samantha being a ReallyGetsAround GoldDigger.
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* NiceGuy: Honestly, Richard is everyone you would want in a loving husband. His biggest flaw appears to be that he couldn't spend enough time away from work to be with his wife and kids.
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* HeroAntagonist: Dana Appleton and her legal team representing Mr. Cole.
* VolleyingInsults: Fletcher vs. Dana during the case.
* VolleyingInsults: Fletcher vs. Dana during the case.
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* CheatingWithTheMilkman: Kenneth is one of the many men that Samantha cheated on her husband with.
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* {{Adorkable}}: Jerry acts like a pretty big dork at times. Especially when he's around Max.
* DerailingLoveInterests: Averted. Jerry is introduced as a genuinely nice and sweet man who treats Audrey and Max well, and although he doesn't care for Fletcher he's civil to him. When he realizes Fletcher still loves his family and the lengths he'll go to in order to keep them, he lets them go and just lets Audrey know he's there if she changes her mind. The only thing you could really say about him is that he's a bit of a goofball, which Audrey admits he can be sometimes.
* DisposableFiance: [[spoiler:Jerry does not get the girl by the end of the movie]].
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: [[spoiler: Jerry lets Audrey stay in Los Angeles so Max doesn't have to be away from his father.]]
* NiceGuy: Apart from being a bit of antagonistic towards Fletcher, he really is a genuinely nice guy. [[spoiler:He even let Audrey and Max go after seeing that Fletcher had become a changed man to be with his family again]].
* NiceGuysFinishLast: Jerry, although Fletcher is somewhat redeemed in Audrey's eyes via his efforts to be a better father.
* NoIndoorVoice: Pretty much any of Fletcher's pronouncements after the realization sets in, but maybe most famously: '''[[MemeticMutation STOP BREAKIN' THE LAW, ASSHOOOOOLE!]]'''
* OrganAutonomy: Jerry attempts a pretty weak version of THE CLAW on Max.
* DerailingLoveInterests: Averted. Jerry is introduced as a genuinely nice and sweet man who treats Audrey and Max well, and although he doesn't care for Fletcher he's civil to him. When he realizes Fletcher still loves his family and the lengths he'll go to in order to keep them, he lets them go and just lets Audrey know he's there if she changes her mind. The only thing you could really say about him is that he's a bit of a goofball, which Audrey admits he can be sometimes.
* DisposableFiance: [[spoiler:Jerry does not get the girl by the end of the movie]].
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: [[spoiler: Jerry lets Audrey stay in Los Angeles so Max doesn't have to be away from his father.]]
* NiceGuy: Apart from being a bit of antagonistic towards Fletcher, he really is a genuinely nice guy. [[spoiler:He even let Audrey and Max go after seeing that Fletcher had become a changed man to be with his family again]].
* NiceGuysFinishLast: Jerry, although Fletcher is somewhat redeemed in Audrey's eyes via his efforts to be a better father.
* NoIndoorVoice: Pretty much any of Fletcher's pronouncements after the realization sets in, but maybe most famously: '''[[MemeticMutation STOP BREAKIN' THE LAW, ASSHOOOOOLE!]]'''
* OrganAutonomy: Jerry attempts a pretty weak version of THE CLAW on Max.
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Changed line(s) 41 (click to see context) from:
A high-ranking Law Firm partner working above Fletcher. Fletcher's work has gained Mr. Allen's attention recently, and watches over his performance in the Cole case to see if Fletcher is worthy to be promoted up to his level.
to:
A high-ranking Law Firm partner working above Fletcher.at the Law Firm. Fletcher's work has gained Mr. Allen's attention recently, and watches over his performance in the Cole case to see if Fletcher is worthy to be promoted up to his level.
Changed line(s) 50 (click to see context) from:
Fletcher's immediate boss who prefers to have lawyers that will lie their way to win out cases. She hands the Cole case over to Fletcher given his high reputation, and becomes interested in him after witnessing his skills as a compulsive liar. However, that interest turns sour the moment he speaks his first words of truth after Max's wish takes affect.
to:
Fletcher's immediate boss who prefers to have lawyers that will lie their way to win out cases. She Miranda hands the Cole case over to Fletcher given his high reputation, and becomes interested in him after witnessing his skills as a compulsive liar. However, that interest turns sour the moment he speaks his first words of truth after Max's wish takes affect.effect.
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Added DiffLines:
Characters who appear in the 1997 comedy, ''Liar Liar''.
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[[foldercontrol]]
!!Reede Family
[[folder:Fletcher Reede]]
!!Fletcher Reede
->'''Played by''': Jim Carrey
The main character of the movie. Fletcher has made a career for himself at a law firm working as a lawyer who lies his way to victory. However, his career as a compulsive liar has resulted in his wife, Audrey, leaving him, and struggles to have a relationship with his son, Max. After lying about being able to make his son's birthday party, Max makes a wish on his birthday cake for just one day that his dad wouldn't be able to tell a lie, which magically comes true. As a result, Fletcher spends the day after Max's birthday unable to tell lies, and it couldn't have come at a worse time given that Fletcher has been handed to him the high-end Cole case that could finally push his career to the next level by becoming a Law Firm partner.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Audrey Reede]]
!!Audrey Reede
->'''Played by''': Maura Tierney
Fletcher's ex-wife who divorced him after having enough with his constant lying, and for sleeping with people more often than she was. She's in a new relationship with Jerry, who wishes for Audrey to move to Boston with him as his new wife.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Max Reede]]
!!Max Reede
->'''Played by''': Justin Cooper
Fletcher and Audrey's son who has grown disappointed in his father for never keeping his promises to hang out with him. As a result, Max makes a wish on his birthday cake for just one day where his dad couldn't tell lies.
----
[[/folder]]
!!Law Firm
[[folder:Mr. Allen]]
!!Mr. Allen
->'''Played by''': Mitchell Ryan
A high-ranking Law Firm partner working above Fletcher. Fletcher's work has gained Mr. Allen's attention recently, and watches over his performance in the Cole case to see if Fletcher is worthy to be promoted up to his level.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Miranda]]
!!Miranda
->'''Played by''': Amanda Donohoe
Fletcher's immediate boss who prefers to have lawyers that will lie their way to win out cases. She hands the Cole case over to Fletcher given his high reputation, and becomes interested in him after witnessing his skills as a compulsive liar. However, that interest turns sour the moment he speaks his first words of truth after Max's wish takes affect.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Greta]]
!!Greta
->'''Played by''': Anne Haney
Fletcher's secretary who knows full well how Fletcher does his work as a compulsive liar.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Jane]]
!!Jane
->'''Played by''': Cheri Oteri
The Law Firm's receptionist who changed her hair-style recently to a rather crazy one.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Elevator Woman]]
!!Elevator Woman
->'''Played by''': Krista Allen
A one-scene wonder in the Law Firm elevator as Fletcher heads off to work for the Cole case.
----
[[/folder]]
!!Cole Case
[[folder:Judge Marshall Stevens]]
!!Judge Marshall Stevens
->'''Played by''': Jason Bernard
The judge who watches over the Cole case between Samantha and Richard.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Samantha Cole]]
!!Samantha Cole
->'''Played by''': Jennifer Tilly
Fletcher's main client for the Cole divorce case. Samantha is convinced by Fletcher that she is the victim in her marriage to Richard due to him ignoring spending time with her for the sake of his work, and as a result, is the reason that she has been sleeping around with other men despite being married. For the case, Samantha goes after Richard to try to take as much as half the marital assets.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Richard Cole]]
!!Richard Cole
->'''Played by''': Eric Pierpoint
Samantha's husband who is at the other end of the Cole case. Despite being on the opposing side against Fletcher, it becomes quite obvious that he was the loving member of the family.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Dana Appleton]]
!!Dana Appleton
->'''Played by''': Swoosie Kurtz
Richard's lawyer who serves as Fletcher's rival in the Cole case.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Kenneth Falk]]
!!Kenneth Falk
->'''Played by''': Chip Mayer
One of Samantha's many partners who chooses to commit perjury with Samantha in order to help win the Cole case.
----
[[/folder]]
!!Others
[[folder:Jerry]]
!!Jerry
->'''Played by''': Cary Elwes
Audrey's new boyfriend who is about to move to take a new job in Boston. Jerry asks for Audrey to marry him so that she and Max could follow him to Boston, which gets in the way of Fletcher attempting to reconcile with his family.
----
[[/folder]]
----
[[foldercontrol]]
!!Reede Family
[[folder:Fletcher Reede]]
!!Fletcher Reede
->'''Played by''': Jim Carrey
The main character of the movie. Fletcher has made a career for himself at a law firm working as a lawyer who lies his way to victory. However, his career as a compulsive liar has resulted in his wife, Audrey, leaving him, and struggles to have a relationship with his son, Max. After lying about being able to make his son's birthday party, Max makes a wish on his birthday cake for just one day that his dad wouldn't be able to tell a lie, which magically comes true. As a result, Fletcher spends the day after Max's birthday unable to tell lies, and it couldn't have come at a worse time given that Fletcher has been handed to him the high-end Cole case that could finally push his career to the next level by becoming a Law Firm partner.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Audrey Reede]]
!!Audrey Reede
->'''Played by''': Maura Tierney
Fletcher's ex-wife who divorced him after having enough with his constant lying, and for sleeping with people more often than she was. She's in a new relationship with Jerry, who wishes for Audrey to move to Boston with him as his new wife.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Max Reede]]
!!Max Reede
->'''Played by''': Justin Cooper
Fletcher and Audrey's son who has grown disappointed in his father for never keeping his promises to hang out with him. As a result, Max makes a wish on his birthday cake for just one day where his dad couldn't tell lies.
----
[[/folder]]
!!Law Firm
[[folder:Mr. Allen]]
!!Mr. Allen
->'''Played by''': Mitchell Ryan
A high-ranking Law Firm partner working above Fletcher. Fletcher's work has gained Mr. Allen's attention recently, and watches over his performance in the Cole case to see if Fletcher is worthy to be promoted up to his level.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Miranda]]
!!Miranda
->'''Played by''': Amanda Donohoe
Fletcher's immediate boss who prefers to have lawyers that will lie their way to win out cases. She hands the Cole case over to Fletcher given his high reputation, and becomes interested in him after witnessing his skills as a compulsive liar. However, that interest turns sour the moment he speaks his first words of truth after Max's wish takes affect.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Greta]]
!!Greta
->'''Played by''': Anne Haney
Fletcher's secretary who knows full well how Fletcher does his work as a compulsive liar.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Jane]]
!!Jane
->'''Played by''': Cheri Oteri
The Law Firm's receptionist who changed her hair-style recently to a rather crazy one.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Elevator Woman]]
!!Elevator Woman
->'''Played by''': Krista Allen
A one-scene wonder in the Law Firm elevator as Fletcher heads off to work for the Cole case.
----
[[/folder]]
!!Cole Case
[[folder:Judge Marshall Stevens]]
!!Judge Marshall Stevens
->'''Played by''': Jason Bernard
The judge who watches over the Cole case between Samantha and Richard.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Samantha Cole]]
!!Samantha Cole
->'''Played by''': Jennifer Tilly
Fletcher's main client for the Cole divorce case. Samantha is convinced by Fletcher that she is the victim in her marriage to Richard due to him ignoring spending time with her for the sake of his work, and as a result, is the reason that she has been sleeping around with other men despite being married. For the case, Samantha goes after Richard to try to take as much as half the marital assets.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Richard Cole]]
!!Richard Cole
->'''Played by''': Eric Pierpoint
Samantha's husband who is at the other end of the Cole case. Despite being on the opposing side against Fletcher, it becomes quite obvious that he was the loving member of the family.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Dana Appleton]]
!!Dana Appleton
->'''Played by''': Swoosie Kurtz
Richard's lawyer who serves as Fletcher's rival in the Cole case.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Kenneth Falk]]
!!Kenneth Falk
->'''Played by''': Chip Mayer
One of Samantha's many partners who chooses to commit perjury with Samantha in order to help win the Cole case.
----
[[/folder]]
!!Others
[[folder:Jerry]]
!!Jerry
->'''Played by''': Cary Elwes
Audrey's new boyfriend who is about to move to take a new job in Boston. Jerry asks for Audrey to marry him so that she and Max could follow him to Boston, which gets in the way of Fletcher attempting to reconcile with his family.
----
[[/folder]]
