Anthony's Film Review - Dumb and Dumber To (2014)

Dumb and Dumber To is, thankfully, funny and funnier, too...

20 years. That's how long it's been since the original Dumb and Dumber movie in 1994. Unless I'm mistaken, the sequel Dumb and Dumber To sets the record for the longest duration between a film and its follow-up. This is not something you typically see, because that is enough time for a new generation of moviegoers to have no knowledge of the original film. In fact, when I saw Dumb and Dumber To at a theater, I noticed that everyone was like me: old enough to have remembered the first Dumb and Dumber movie. But hey, if this many people could still remember the 1994 movie and have enough interest to see a sequel 20 years later, maybe having a numbered sequel after such a long time isn't a bad thing after all. (Movies that reboot a series after a long time don't count here.)

The next question to ask is whether a two-decade gap between movies will reduce the charm and humor that everyone remembers from the first movie. Well, I'm happy to report that Jim Carrey as Lloyd Christmas and Jeff Daniels as Harry Dunne are still as funny as before, even if the two actors (and, therefore, their fictional roles) have aged. Also, Bobby and Peter Farrelly, a.k.a. the Farrelly Brothers, have directed a movie that is as funny as before. Actually, I should be more honest. Dumb and Dumber To is one step above the original Dumb and Dumber in terms of humor and laughs. Even if you disagree with that, I hope you can at least agree that this movie is not less funnier than the first.

Speaking of the humor, the types of jokes you know from before are here. Expect to see sex jokes, fart jokes, really idiotic moments, exaggerated dream sequences, and even a villainous character or two. One thing is different, though. Dumb and Dumber To throws these jokes at you at a pace somewhat faster than the first Dumb and Dumber. Plus, they are dirtier and more risque than before, even to the point where one might wonder if this movie should be rated R, not PG-13. As an example (and perhaps as a warning), there is a scene that involves weird sex humor with an old lady in a nursing home.

As for the plot, Dumb and Dumber To presents another cross-country adventure for Harry and Lloyd. Whereas the first Dumb and Dumber was about trying to return a lost suitcase, the second Dumb and Dumber is about trying to locate a previously unknown offspring. Basically, Harry discovers that he has a daughter and wants to find her. However, the real reason Harry wants to do that is because he needs a new kidney, and a biologically related individual would be the best donor. Lloyd gladly joins Harry on the quest, though for a different reason: Lloyd has the hots for Harry's daughter. I'm sure you can imagine what might ensue between a man with a daughter and another man who falls for that daughter. (By the way, the daughter turns out to be just as dumb as Harry and Lloyd, which makes me wonder if this movie should be called Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest.)

Dumb and Dumber To was a movie that made me laugh as much as the first Dumb and Dumber, at least for the first third of the movie. Eventually, there was a scene that made me laugh so hard that it became a turning point for me. (In case you're wondering, it's the scene that involves several seconds of near silence, during which something totally unexpected happens.) From that point on, I found myself laughing more freely and loudly. I also found myself admiring the story, whose finale takes place in a setting where you would least expect to see idiots like Harry and Lloyd.

All in all, Dumb and Dumber To amazingly holds itself together after a 20-year hiatus. The only thing I wonder now is this: will we have to wait a very long time before we can see a third Dumb and Dumber movie, if there will be one? Harry and Lloyd may be goofy characters, but I doubt they would be funny as really old people who can barely move.

Anthony's Rating:

For more information about Dumb and Dumber To, visit the Internet Movie Database.

In addition, check out my reviews of Dumb and Dumber and Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd.