Review: Dumb and Dumber To
Twenty years have passed since the imbecilic antics of Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) and Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) delighted and repulsed moviegoers. Not much has changed in the past two decades - the duo are as dumb and dumber as ever with Lloyd's stupidity so boundless that years of shock treatments and a partial lobotomy barely make a dent.
The plot, such as it is, has Lloyd and Harry tracking down a potential kidney donor for Harry. They discover that Harry fathered a child with neighbourhood trollop Fraida Felcher (Kathleen Turner, deserving of better), who gave up her baby for adoption. The idiots travel on to Maryland to meet the adoptive father, renowned scientist Dr. Pinchlow (Steve Tom) who informs them that daughter Penny (Rachel Melvin) has gone off to El Paso to deliver a keynote speech on his behalf.
Lloyd and Harry continue their road trip to reach Penny, unaware that they're pursued by killers. You see, they're in possession of a package containing Pinchelow's gift to humanity, an invention worth billions; Pinchelow's foot-loving trophy wife (Laurie Holden) and her handyman lover Travis (Rob Riggle) are desperate to get their hands on it, even enlisting Travis's twin brother for his Special Ops skills.
To say Dumb and Dumber To is painful viewing is an extreme understatement. Sean Anders, also responsible for the inane Horrible Bosses 2, appears to have a cursed touch where sequels are concerned; the blame for this plodding mess is not his to bear alone. The Farrelly Brothers seem to have lost all ability to stage or edit a scene, much less recognise that most of the jokes are long past their sell-by date.
Carrey and Daniels at least appear to be having a good time with Daniels once again holding his own against Carrey's anarchic energy. The sequel wastes their efforts; here's hoping they team up again in a far more enjoyable vehicle.
Dumb and Dumber To
Directed by: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
Written by: Sean Anders, Mike Cerrone, Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
Starring: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Kathleen Turner, Rob Riggle, Steve Tom, Laurie Holden, Rachel Melvin
