Movies That Were Marketed As Something Totally Different

By the time "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" was released in theaters in 2004, Jim Carrey had already made a big name for himself as a successful slapstick comedian, giving great performances in comedies like "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" and "The Mask." He was enough of a household name that Focus Features was able to advertise "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" on Carrey's star power alone. But "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," written by Charlie Kaufman, wasn't much like the other films that audiences had seen Carrey headline at that point.

The film definitely has an offbeat sense of humor — after all, Charlie Kaufman is one of the most famous comedy writers who has ever lived. But mostly, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is a lot more like a melancholy rumination on the unique and seemingly unbearable pain of a break-up with a long-term partner. It was marketed as a comedic vehicle for Carrey, albeit more in the vein of a romantic comedy — not totally unfamiliar territory for the actor.  

Carrey, who plays Joel, erases his memories of his ex-girlfriend of two years, Clementine, after finding out that she'd erased him from her mind first. But when he suddenly changes his mind, he goes on a madcap romp through his subconscious in an effort to cling to the memories. While the film manages to eke out a happy ending, it's vulnerable and tenuous, and one that feels too similar to real-life relationship closure to be the ending of a light-hearted Jim Carrey comedy.