It’s going to be difficult to convince anyone that Dumb and Dumber To is actually worth their attention.
It’s a sequel to a film that is now two decades old, and its stars have noticeably aged. Even with this in mind, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the movie. Dumb and Dumber To had enough humor to keep me engaged, the leads managed to physically commit to their roles, and the film borrowed just enough from the original to feel like a sequel without being a complete copy.
If you are not a fan of the first Dumb and Dumber’s brand of stupid humor, this latest installment will not change your mind. However, if you’re looking for goofy laughs that do not solely rely on stereotypes, I think this movie offers plenty of reason to make your way to the theater.
Dumb and Dumber To follows Harry and Lloyd twenty years after the conclusion of the first film, explaining that the gap between the two is due to Lloyd’s efforts to pull off an elaborate prank. From there, the duo attempts to track down Harry’s long lost daughter – and hijinks ensue.
The script follows a similar structure to the first, but compared to other sequels, it comes across less as an obvious duplicate. Instead, every scene that mirrors the first movie, in some way, puts a twist on the original. Even the soundtrack borrows from the first movie, but yet again, sequences that reuse songs feel like they are paying homage to the classic, rather than using its legacy as a crutch.
This is a follow up to a film that is considered a comedy classic and somehow, the Farrelly brothers managed to do the original justice. The film does have its flaws, such as its use of graphic physical humor, often crossing the line between gross and funny. Also, the work behind the camera that demonstrates the directors’ strengths remain with their ability to write, but this can’t keep Dumb and Dumber To from being an entertaining film.
It may not be an artsy comedy, but it is one that’s worth your time.
