Do actors sometimes improvise their lines in funny movies?

Question

I heard Jim Carrey did in Dumb and Dumber, and Will Ferrell does in his movies, as well.

Answer 1

A lot of comic actors ad lib pretty freely. In film, when they're shooting several takes of each sequence, it makes sense to let lunatics like Jim Carrey go crazy...the good stuff can be pulled out in the editing phase.

If you've ever seen any of the "classic" (I use the term advisedly) Jerry Lewis comedies ("The Nutty Professor," e.g.), it's pretty clear that he was making up a lot of his dialogue as he went along.

Answer 2

Most screenwriters/directors purposefully put in conversations/whole scenes which will be improvised in order to get a more spontaneous action/reaction from the actors to improve the comedy in the film. So, yes it is true.

Answer 3

A large portion of Ghostbusters was improvised, but few comedic actors are actually funny without someone putting words into their mouths. Robin Williams used to ad-lib, but I’m not sure if he still does.

Answer 4

Most directors give their actors the freedom to ad-lib a line here & there, but only the true genius comediens can get away w/ doing it all the time. i.e....., Robin, Will Farrell, Adam Sandler, Bill Murray, & Ellen

Answer 5

Robin Williams improved the whole "face cream" scene in Mrs. Doubtfire.

Answer 6

only the truly good comedian/actors can improvise their lines...will ferrell is a master at that!!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

Yes. This is very true.
Take care.

Answer 8

yea... they started in tv series and then they moved it to movies..