Dumb and Dumber To Review

Dumb and Dumber To

Directors: Bobby and Peter Farrelly 

Cast: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Rob Riggle, Laurie Holden 

Original Release Date: November 14th, 2014

            Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels have each had long and hilarious careers in comedy films.  When they came together in 1994 for Dumb and Dumber, a dynamic duo of idiocy was born and a classic title in their pantheon.   I have not seen the “sequel” Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd but I’ve heard some very, very bad things about it as it does not even feature the two stars.  But now here is a proper sequel in Dumb and Dumber To, and it has just about as much stupid fun as the original.

            Set in today and featuring a visibly aged Lloyd( Jim Carrey) and Harry( Jeff Daniels) the movie shows how their lives have changed since then like any good comedy reunion.  And considering these two knuckleheads are well… dumb and (dumber) that means nothing has at all.  The source of the film’s humor, and credit to its stars, is that our two heroes still act as goofy as they once did.  Time hasn’t caused them to mature even 0.000001% and that’s totally alright.  There’s some small, and funny , references to the first film but otherwise it’s a wild new ride.

            The mission these two find themselves on this time is that Harry is dying of a failed kidney (don’t worry it doesn’t get even closer to being “dark” though there’s some jarring bits of melancholy that luckily don’t overall distract from the laughs)  and needs a donor from a relative. It just so happens that he has discovered he has a long lost daughter.   Lloyd joins him as they journey across the country and get involved with many many silly mishaps.

            The movie is funny enough on their own but filling supporting roles this time around are Laurie Holden as the mysterious Adele and Rob Riggle as twin brothers Travis and “the Captain.”  They aren’t exactly showstoppers but offer a nice complement to the Carrey/Daniels, especially Riggle who has some great lines. 

            The movie manages to have a surprisingly decent plot mixed with hilarious moments that must be seen first hand.  The stakes are raised from the first film, and there’s even some minor action.   But  there are some gross-out low brow poop jokes as well. It’s a shame that it seems they felt forced to include such eye-rolling (because of how many there are)  jokes like that in order to “up the ante” and compete in today’s film market.

            The movie is best when it’s embracing it’s best asset: Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels acting very stupidly.  The “reunion” plot line gives it a charming vibe which sets it apart from the first one, but the great jokes are in smaller number. Still a decent watch however if one doesn’t mind dumb fun. 7.3 out of 10