What may seem like 20 years almost too late, a sequel that fans were supposedly asking for, has arrived dubiously in the form of “Dumb & Dumber To,” the Farrelly Brothers follow up to the beloved cult favorite. It stars the wonderfully talented Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels back in their old shoe roles of Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne.

Where has this rag-tag dynamic duo been for over twenty years? …Well, for the sake of a good gag, I’ll let the audience figure that out. Harry (Daniels) is in desperate need of a kidney transplant and he later finds out that he has a daughter (Whose mother is Fraida Felcher played by Kathleen Turner). This spurs the dumbfounded nitwits to set out on a cross country roadtrip to find her, and retrieve her kidney. The disaster that ensues is all well played in the same vein as its original counterpart.

To say that I didn’t laugh aimlessly while watching this film would be a lie. However, the film does not excel. Looking back at other long-anticipated sequels, I would defend “Live Free or Die Hard,” and even “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” These films served their purpose, and revisiting those characters seemed to make sense. Even last years, “Anchorman 2:The Legend Continues,” though not as comically amicable, still took advantage of the situations the characters were in. For “Dumber To” there is no benefit to seeing Harry & Lloyd again, except of course for it being a major cash cow for the studios involved, along with a hefty paycheck for the actors.

Nostalgia serves a purpose… Yes, I understand.  That being said, if you’re going to invest in such solid property,  try to keep the consistency flowing. It also doesn’t help that Jim Carrey is 52, and Daniels is 59, so the physical comedy is limited and what is there feels forced. These characters that once seemed so animated…are just not so animated anymore.

While being a heavily rated PG13, I was morbidly shocked at the gags, goofs, and satirical pieces that the Farrelly Brothers got away with. Some folks thought the movie was tame, but I felt it was too strong at times. Believe me, when the jokes come ready, and don’t make me roll my eyes,  it’s damn funny. But the jokes that fall flat seemingly outweighed the jokes that had strength. (Which are very few).

I know you’re not walking into a movie called “Dumb and Dumber” expecting the next best Oscar winner. I expect, though, some honest integrity. The original was executed almost perfectly; the nuance felt seemingly original, and the laughs were genuine. I honestly felt that this time around, the script was poorly written. Take for instance, Harry and Lloyd in the original were presented as a “Beavis and Butt-head” kind of deal while the world around them rapidly evolved. This time, every token character seems placed for the idiots to stumble upon, and it never really felt whole.

Growing up in the ‘90s, you need to understand my love and affection for the original “Dumb and Dumber,” Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. This especially is why it hurts that I am so disappointed in this film. For the sake of all intensive purposes, and the few jokes that are actually funny, I can bear a “rent it” type recommendation. I love seeing two comedic pros doing what they do best, and maybe if the reigns had been let up – this could have been a more satisfying romp.

C

Directed By: Peter & Bobby Farrelly

Rated: PG13

Runtime: 105 mins

Studio: Universal Pictures

Release Date: November 14th, 2014

Thanks For Stopping By