Stanley Ipkiss, portrayed by Jim Carrey, is a timid bank clerk living in Edge City, often the target of ridicule from his boss, landlady, and even car mechanics. His only solace comes from his loyal Fox Terrier, Milo, and his supportive coworker Charlie. Meanwhile, the shady gangster Dorian Tyrell, who operates the glamorous Coco Bongo nightclub, concocts a plan to seize power from his boss, Niko, by leveraging his sultry singer girlfriend, Tina Carlyle, played by Cameron Diaz.
In a twist of fate, Tyrell sends Tina into Stanley's bank with a hidden surveillance camera as part of his heist scheme. Enamored with Tina, Stanley believes there might be a spark between them. However, a night of misadventures leads him to a dilapidated harbor where he stumbles upon a mysterious wooden mask. Mistaken initially for someone in distress, Stanley takes the mask home and playfully dons it. To his astonishment, the mask transforms him into "The Mask": a zany, green-headed figure bursting with whimsical abilities that defy reality, along with a penchant for mischief.
With a newfound confidence, Stanley uses his masked persona to retaliate against his tormentors and frighten a gang of would-be muggers. The following day, he finds himself in a complex web involving the local detective, Lieutenant Kellaway, and reporter Peggy Brandt, who are both hot on the trail of The Mask. Despite the chaos that ensues, Stanley’s fascination with the mask proves too irresistible to resist, leading him to again embrace its unpredictable powers.
With dreams of impressing Tina and securing money for her performance, The Mask crashes Tyrell’s bank heist, albeit with humorous flair. He dances flamboyantly with Tina at the Coco Bongo, leaving the audience in awe, but his antics attract the ire of Tyrell. After a series of exhilarating events and confrontations, including The Mask's daring reactions to police captures and a harrowing betrayal from Peggy, the stakes heighten as Tyrell, now wielding the mask’s powers himself, poses a grave threat.
In a climactic showdown at a charity event, chaos unfurls as Tyrell targets both Tina and the club. With the help of Milo, who becomes a cartoonish champion, Stanley battles against Tyrell to reclaim the mask. As the police close in, the confrontation resolves with Stanley finally using the mask's powers for good, saving Tina and vanquishing Tyrell.
As dawn breaks, Stanley, Tina, Milo, and Charlie share a pivotal moment by the harbor, where they return the mask to the depths from which it came, solidifying their bond with a kiss. With moments of laughter and adventure behind them, a sense of peace settles in, though Milo mischievously swims off with the mask, hinting at the potential for future escapades.
