Film Review: ‘Dumb and Dumber To’ Too Dumb to Be Funny

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly versionE-mail page to friendE-mail page to friendPDF versionPDF version
Average: 5 (1 vote)

CHICAGO – “Dumb And Dumber To” is an exercise in diminishing returns. Jim Carrey and the Farrelly Brothers expend twice the effort for less than a third of the laughs. It benefits greatly from the enormous well of goodwill created by the original’s inspired idiocy. But one can only suspend disbelief for so long and this sequel has problems that the warm glow of nostalgia can’t solve.

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 2.5/5.0
Rating: 2.5/5.0

Picking up 20 years after the original, Carrey and Daniels head back out on the road to find the daughter Daniels never knew he had. The script – which is credited to six writers – uses the plot as the flimsiest of clotheslines on which to hang its physical gags.

It’s less a movie than a string of punchlines in search of a decent setup. Some work, but many many do not. The first time Carrey pulls an elaborate fake out routine on Daniels it’s mildly amusing. The sixth time it happens its just plain lazy. Nostalgia proves to be its most reliable source of jokes – a high point is the fate of Billy the blind kid and his pet bird Siskel (a parrot who speaks in nothing but movie quotes).

“Dumb and Dumber To” opens everywhere on November 14th. Featuring Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Rob Riggle, Kathleen Turner, Laurie Holden, Rachel Melvin, Don Lake and Bill Murray. Screenplay by Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly, Sean Anders, Mike Cerrone, John Morris and Bernie Yellin. Directed by Bobby and Peter Farrelly. Rated “PG-13”

StarContinue reading for Spike Walters’ full review of “Dumb and Dumber To”

Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels
Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels in ‘Dumb and Dumber To’
Photo credit: Universal Pictures

StarContinue reading for Spike Walters’ full review of “Dumb and Dumber To”

User Login

Free Giveaway Mailing

TV, DVD, BLU-RAY & THEATER REVIEWS

  • Manhunt

    CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.

  • Topdog/Underdog, Invictus Theatre

    CHICAGO – When two brothers confront the sins of each other and it expands into a psychology of an entire race, it’s at a stage play found in Chicago’s Invictus Theatre Company production of “Topdog/Underdog,” now at their new home at the Windy City Playhouse through March 31st, 2024. Click TD/UD for tickets/info.

Advertisement



HollywoodChicago.com on Twitter

archive

HollywoodChicago.com Top Ten Discussions
referendum
tracker