"With these powers I could be a Superhero"

The Mask works as a satire of the classic Superhero’s journey.

1. Nice but undervalued guy gains powers, explores them, and has some fun.
2. He embarks on a quest.
3. His powers go to his head and he loses his way.
4. He suffers a setback.
5. He triumphs in the end because his inner decency gives him strength that he didn’t know he had.

However if we look at these points with regard to Stanley Ipkiss, it’s clear that The Mask is a very different kind of Superhero’s journey:

1. Nice but undervalued guy gains powers, explores them, and has some fun. His “fun” includes criminal damage, assault, battery and shooting at a gang will a machine gun.
2. He embarks on a quest. His quest is to woo, win and make love to a gorgeous woman.
3. His powers go to his head and he loses his way. On meeting up with Tina again he comes on “a bit strong” to the extent that she knees him in the groin and tries to run away from him. He then slaps two police officers repeatedly.
4. He suffers a setback. He loses the Mask.
5. He triumphs in the end because his inner decency gives him strength that he didn’t know he had. Plus his dog gained superpowers and used them to best some goons.

StanleyMask pays lip service to the fact that “With these powers I could be…a superhero. I could fight crime, protect the innocent, work for world peace.” However there is a sting in the tail: “But first.” Because he has other priorities.