Dumb and Dumber

Rating: 9/10 (11 March 2005)

Growing up, this was probably the funniest comedy I had ever seen at the time, and still today it is one of the funniest, no matter how many times I watch it, from directing brothers Peter and Bobby Farrelly (There's Something About Mary, Shallow Hal, The Heartbreak Kid). Basically in Providence, Rhode Island, Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) works as a limousine driver, and his best friend and roommate Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) works as an operator for a mobile pet grooming service called "Mutt Cutts", they are the friendly and lovable, but together probably the stupidest people ever. One day Lloyd drives Mary Swanson (Lauren Holly) to the airport, she is travelling back home to Aspen, he instantly falls in love with her, but then he watches her leave a briefcase in the terminal, before kidnappers Joe "Mental" Mentalino (Mike Starr) and J.P. Shay (Karen Duffy) can collect it Lloyd retrieves it and tries to return it, without success. Lloyd is unaware the briefcase contains ransom money for the return of Mary's husband Bobby (Brad Lockerman), he is fired from his job, as is Harry for delivering dogs late and accidentally dirty to a show, Mental and Shay have followed them, the duo mistake them for debt collectors and escape out the window, when they later return Harry's parakeet has been decapitated, upset by everything Lloyd suggests they should get away to Aspen. Harry knows Lloyd wants to return the briefcase to Mary and at first opposes the idea, but knowing Lloyd wants to find happiness agrees, and they set off the next day in Harry's dog looking van, Mental and Shay find out their plan and follow them. The kidnappers catch up to the pair, Mental poses as a hitchhiker to be picked up, while Shay follows, they stop for lunch, Lloyd and Harry prank Mental with chili peppers in his burger, and trying to help him give his medication for his ulcer they unintentionally poison him with the pills he planned to use on them. The pair continue towards Colardo, but Lloyd takes a wrong turn and ends up driving through Nebraska, Harry realises the error and is angered, eventually giving up on the journey and deciding to walk home, but Lloyd returns after trading the van for a moped and persuades him to go on to Aspen. The two arrive in Aspen but are unable to locate Mary, at night they stand by a fire to keep warm, and in a scuffle over gloves Harry throws and breaks open the briefcase, discovering the money, they "borrow" it to get a luxury hotel, clothes and a Lamborghini Diablo. In the newspaper they find out Mary and her family are hosting a gala, they prepare to attend, Lloyd is too nervous to talk to Mary, so gets Harry to bring her over, but through the influence of Mary's mother Helen (Teri Garr) reluctantly agrees to go skiing with her the next day, lying to Lloyd he has a date with her. The next day Harry spends the day on the slopes with Mary, but Lloyd finds out he lied to him, knowing Harry is seeing Mary again that night he gets revenge, he spikes Harry's coffee with laxative, Harry unintentionally ends up crapping in a broken toilet, while Lloyd arrives at the house, telling Mary he has her briefcase. Lloyd takes Mary to the hotel and shows her the briefcase, and tries to confess his love for her, but she rejects him, then Swanson family friend Nicholas Andre (Charles Rocket) shows up with a gun, he is the mastermind to Bobby's kidnapping, he is angry to discover most of the money has been spent and replaced with IOUs, he takes Lloyd and Mary hostage, and Harry when he returns. Before Nicholas can kill them, the FBI raid the suite, he and Shay are arrested, and Bobby is returned and reunited with Mary, to Lloyd's jealousy. The next day Lloyd and Harry are walking home, all their items have been confiscated and their moped broke down, when a bus full of beautiful bikini dressed women stop they unknowingly decline the chance to be oil boys for their competitions, Harry ironically tells Lloyd they will get their "break" one day, and the film ends with them having a game of tag as they continue to walk home. Also starring Victoria Rowell as Athletic Beauty, Joe Baker as Barnard, Hank Brandt as Karl Swanson and Cam Neely as Sea Bass. Carrey with his chipped tooth (real with his cap removed for the film) gets his many moments to use his facial and bodily hilarity, especially in a hilarious dream sequence, Daniels is equally great being comedic and getting his great moments, especially the hilarious toilet scene, together they are a pair of morons. This film at the time got mixed reviews, but you surely cannot help but disengage and enjoy, the kidnap format is only slight and allows you to laugh much more at the great slapstick, sight gags and toilet humour during a chaotic road trip, a fantastic comedy. It was number 17 on The 50 Greatest Comedy Films. Very good!