fate lead walter sparrow to come in possession of a mysterious novel that have eerie similarity and connection to his life and all base around the number 23. a the story unfolds in real life and fiction and sparrow must figure out his connection to the book and how the story will eventually end . the number 23 offer an intriguing premise that be undone by a weak execution . the film just fail on many different level which be pretty disappointing because it hold so much potential . the screenplay be probably the bad part about it . it be fill with silly sequence and laughable dialog that just kill the mood of the movie . it seem like the screenwriter have a good idea and he just do not know how to develop it to stretch over a ninety minute run time . the second half of the film be run low on idea and the twist be pretty obvious and the end be awful . joel schumacher be responsible for one of the bad movie ever and he do redeem himself a little with phone booth and a few other film but the number 23 reminds me that he still capable of make a stinker . he have the movie drench in style but he just can not get a good focus . he move the film at a clunky and slow pace . he switch from reality to what actually happen in the book which quickly get annoy . the actual book in the film that title the number 23 be an awful detective story and the audience get stuck listening to carrey narrate it which just bore me to tear . when carrey be finally do with book and we get stuck watch him run around try to solve the mystery . at this point and the audience have lose interest and there be no real tension . we impatiently wait for the movie to reach it horrible end and unconvincing explanation before celebrate that film have finally finish . the acting be mostly average and pretty forgettable . jim carrey be clearly just sleepwalk through his performance and he do not even seem to be try . he be either completely over the top in some scene or just very wooden . his narration be a complete bore to listen to and he put no life inside his character . virginia madsen do the best she could with a limited role but she need to pick good script . logan lerman be pretty bland a be danny huston . overall and the number 23 be an awful thriller that offer more laugh than suspense or thrill . rating negative .