Dumb and Dumber To

My Grade:  B

Dumb and Dumber stands as one of the best comedies of all time. I will stand behind that statement and vehemently defend it to anyone who wants to disagree. It simultaneously explores the innocence and stupidity of its two protagonists while throwing joke after joke at you, some of which are very subtle and almost, dare I say, high-brow. Unfortunately, the recent follow up does not capture the same lightning-in-a-bottle awesomeness but still offers some great laughs and a bit of heart.

The beginning of the film is rather disjointed and not all of the gags work out very well. I was happy to see Harry (Jeff Daniels) and Lloyd (Jim Carrey) back at their antics (and even see a few throwbacks to the original film) but I wasn’t impressed and didn’t laugh a lot. Once we hit the second act, though, and the dimwitted pair takes off on their journey (with the hilarious Rob Riggle in tow), the film becomes 90 minutes of pure laughter that feels more like a quick 30 minutes.

The story is equal parts nostalgia and originality. It mirrors the journey of the first film but with a murder plot rather than a kidnapping plot and going to Texas instead of Colorado. But, unlike The Hangover Part II, Dumb and Dumber To doesn’t feel like a remake but an actual sequel. And there are just enough connections to the first film to satisfy the hard-core Dumb and Dumber fan, but it still holds up as a standalone film - something that seems to be less and less important in the studio system these days.

The standouts in this film are the same things that stood out in the original:  Jim Carrey’s mastery of physical comedy and the chemistry between Carrey and Daniels. Carrey is one of the best physical comedians to ever grace a screen. Whether he’s dancing, eating a hotdog in the most unconventional but hilarious way, or making absurd faces, he can get the laugh every time. This is what some people dislike about his brand of comedy, but there is no denying his knack for it. And there has never been such a perfect marriage of comedy genius than Carrey and Daniels. I don’t know what it is about them, but their timing and delivery of jokes paired with their banter back and forth... amazing.

Overall, Dumb and Dumber To is not as good as it’s predecessor but is a satisfying follow-up to one of the best comedies of all time. One thing is for sure, though:  if you didn’t like the first one, you won’t like this one. To be honest, I thought I was being foolishly hopeful that Dumb and Dumber To would be any good, but I’m proud to report that fans of the first should be very satisfied.