Starring: Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels
Directed by: Peter and Bobby Farrelly
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hours 50 mins
Universal
Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars
1994. What a year. For those of you too young to remember, 1994 was the year O.J. Simpson led the police on a slow-speed chase in his Bronco. The princess of Rock (Lisa Marie Presley) married the King of Pop (do I have to name him?). A gallon of gas cost $1.09 while the average price of a movie ticket was just over $4.00. In 1994 you could spend that four bucks on such films as “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Pulp Fiction” and the Oscar-winning “Forrest Gump.” And, on November 14th, you could go see a new comedy called “Dumb and Dumber.” Two decades later, Lloyd and Harry are back.
Every Wednesday for the past twenty years Harry Dunn (Daniels) has visited his catatonic friend Lloyd Christmas (Carrey). This visit Harry breaks the news to his friend that he is in need of a kidney to live. Lloyd reacts to this news, explaining to Harry that he has been pulling his leg for the last twenty years. Harry is impressed with Lloyds deception and soon the two hapless friends are back together on the road, seeking a life-saving organ to keep the two friends together. Of course, hijinx ensue!
Outrageously funny most of the time, “Dumb and Dumber To” is buoyed by the performances of Carrey and Daniels, who appear to have not lost a beat since their last time together. With his chipped tooth and Moe Howard haircut, Carrey still embodies the rubber-limbed idiot Lloyd while Daniels, with his messed up hair and exposed butt-crack stills shines as Harry. When the two learn that Harry has fathered a since-adopted girl the search for a new kidney takes on a family twist.
For those of you asking if it’s as stupid as the first film, the answer is “yes.” That’s what drives the humor. Things you and I consider simple are like quantum physics to these two boobs. They put the “funny” in “funny movie.” Carrey and Daniels are helped out by a strong supporting cast which includes Rob Riggle (in a duo role), Brady Bluhm and a very good sport in Kathleen Turner. Like many Farrelly brother films the gags come fast and heavy. Some hit, some miss, but the hits outnumber the misses enough to make the film well worth seeing.