Dumb and Dumber To (2014) Directed by Bobby Farrelly & Peter Farrelly. Starring: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Rob Riggle. IMDB says: “20 years since their first adventure, Lloyd and Harry go on a road trip to find Harry’s newly discovered daughter, who was given up for adoption.”
“Got you!”
The movie begins just like the trailer did, with Harry Dunn (Jeff Daniels) crossing a courtyard of sorts to a wheelchair bound Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey). Lloyd is in a catatonic-like state suffering from an assumed mental breakdown after the events of Dumb and Dumber. As Harry leaves Lloyd, Harry stops, hearing the slightest noise from Lloyd. As he approaches, Lloyd exclaims with an intense joy, “Got you!” Lloyd was faking it the whole time, and Harry fell for it: Hook, line, and sphincter. I waited from the opening scenes to the closing credits for someone, anyone, to jump into frame and exclaim, “Got you!” and then start the actual movie. That never happened.
Instead the movie continued and ran from scene to scene telling the same stale and tired jokes we’ve come to expect from a Farrelly Brothers movie. The jokes were not “shocking” or “offensive” or “gross out”; they were just plain awful. Even when the movie would take a second and really take in what was going on, you couldn’t help but feel like something was off. Something was different about Harry and Lloyd. They weren’t these loveable goofs on a road trip stumbling along via misguided shenanigans. Instead they were supped up caricatures of their former selves forcing jokes through cynicism. They referenced events from the last movie, had some of the same phrases and mannerisms from the last movie, and even ran into a couple old friends from the last movie (okay, just one), but it didn’t feel right.
I’m disappointed. I’m disappointed in the sloppily thrown together plot and it’s bullshit resolution. I’m disappointed in some of the scenes that we’re shoddily done in front of a green screen. I’m disappointed in the numerous characters and subplots that were used as gags rather than opportunities to further explore Lloyd and Harry. I’m disappointed in the Farrelly Brothers for writing this garbage movie (along with FOUR other people) and directing this garbage movie. I’m disappointed in Jeff Daniels and Jim Carrey for participating in this movie. Did they even read the script? Did they really, on their own volition, agree that the story was solid enough to be turned into a movie? But most importantly, I’m disappointed in myself for thinking this movie would be 1/100th of the movie Dumb and Dumber was and still is.
Perhaps the most baffling part of this movie is the end credits. As the credits roll, they show scenes from the film we just saw along with scenes from the original Dumb and Dumber. They cover the entire plot of the film in roughly a minute and a half. Why? Show us outtakes, goofs, or alternate lines. Show us something. Show us you actually cared about what you were doing. Show us you didn’t basically rehash the first film but with different characters, settings, and worse jokes.
Don’t see this movie. Just don’t. Don’t even give it a passing glance on Netflix, Redbox, VOD, or when it eventually hits cable. I never want to talk about this movie or its existence ever again. If you need me, I’ll be crying into a pint of Ben and Jerry’s watching Dumb and Dumber trying to figure out what went wrong.
FTS SCORE: 0%