Dumb And Dumberer  

Year of Release: 2003
Genre: Comedy / Teen
Rating: Rated PG-13 for crude sex-related humor and language.
Director: Troy Miller
Starring: Derek Richardson, Eric Christian Olsen, Eugene Levy, Shia LaBeouf, Mimi Rogers, Luis Guzman, Bob Saget

Date Of Review: April 2008

Making a prequel to a successful comedy like “Dumb And Dumber” was no easy task but one thing the filmmakers were successful in achieving was casting the two leads, Derek Richardson (Harry) and Eric Christian Olsen (Lloyd). The important thing is both actors are believable as the younger characters of the original film. It is amazing, how much both leads look and sound just like Carrey and Daniels. They bust their guts to put in performances that echo their earlier counterparts but unfortunately the jokes are weak and some of the situations they find themselves in are rather embarrassing. Ultimately, it is the script and the plot that lets them down. It’s all too absurd for its own good and the film relies too much on the old comedy cliché of one misunderstanding after another.

Set in 1986, “Dumber And Dumberer” is a film that limps out of the starting gates and has a real difficulty trying to find its comedic feet. After being home schooled during their early years, Harry and Lloyd literally bump into each other on their first day of real high school. Eugene Levy ("American Pie") plays a corrupt principal that sets up a fake special needs class with Harry and Lloyd as the hand-picked students. Eugene’s aim is to use this class as a means of embezzling funds from the department of education, something he refers to as “the crime of the century”.  Unfortunately, there is nothing original about this prequel. It has a flimsy plot and it uses every known trick in the book to extract its humor. It repeats many of the jokes from the original film to lesser effect, it uses riffs of music from old Television shows (“The A-Team” theme) and movies (Eye Of The Tiger from “Rocky III”), not to mention, the films it tries to parody, most notably the Steve Martin comedy “Roxanne”, where Lloyd while speaking to his dog tries to throw Harry a few lines of dialogue to help him impress his girlfriend. In every instance, the filmmaker’s comedic efforts fall short of the mark.  

We get corny jokes ranging from slushies that give Harry and Lloyd brain freezes to a barrage of toilet humor which comes to a head when Harry goes on his date. You guessed it, it’s a hilariously disgusting bathroom moment that sees Harry “coat” his girlfriend’s bathroom, in not what you expect, but Hershey’s chocolate. This leads to the ultimate misunderstanding, we know that it’s chocolate but the film’s clueless characters think it’s “you know what”. This sequence includes a cringe-worthy cameo by Bob Saget of “Full House” fame who play’s Harry’s girlfriend’s father. However, the toilet humor doesn’t stop there. The film is even book ended with another similar scene. This time round it is mud not chocolate and guess what, Bob Saget pops up once again to see the mess and again he mistakes it for “you know what”. Seeing Harry and Saget’s car covered in the stuff is a finale that stinks, but it may be true to say, that Bob Saget with this scene steals the show.  

“Dumb And Dumberer” has its moments but it seems that the film is destined to work best on a juvenile level  only, maybe for under 12’s, I don’t know for sure, it’s hard to say, because some of the jokes are a little risqué for the kiddies. Whatever the case, the film’s real stroke of genius is in its casting, but using the word “genius” in a review for a film like this is pushing it. Simply put, the film has a better cast than the material on offer. Even “Disturbia” and “Transformers” star Shia LaBeouf is wasted in a disposable role and may want to scratch this one off his resume. Nevertheless, the film still made money at the US box office. On a budget of $19 million “Dumb And Dumberer” managed to sneak away with over $26 million in the US alone but with a quality level like this you would think that the franchise is now well in truly in the toilet just like most of the jokes.  On a final note, I must say that the DVD viewing is better than the cinema experience because the DVD is loaded with extras that are funnier and more entertaining than the film itself. Now, if you’re game…. check them out.

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The Original "Dumb And Dumber" - Now Available:

Dumb And Dumber (1994) [DVD]
Outrageously funny hi-jinks ensue when dimwitted pals Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels set out to find the beautiful socialite who dropped a briefcase filled with loot at a Rhode Island airport. The goofballs' search leads to Aspen, but also on the woman's trail are some nasty kidnappers. Lauren Holly also stars in this wild rib-tickler. 106 min. Standard and Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; biographies; photo gallery; theatrical trailers.  

If you like the "Dumb And Dumber" films you should also enjoy the following movie - Now Available on DVD:

Blonde And Blonder(2007) [DVD]
Pamela Anderson and Denise Richards--underworld assassins? A mob boss thinks so, after the curvaceous couple comes into contact with a dead informant. The crime kingpin then makes the ladies a non-negotiable offer, leading them to continue their masquerade as mechanics and take every advantage of their ample skill sets to survive. They're blondes...what could go wrong? Emmanuelle Vaugier, Byron Mann co-star. 95 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English (SDH), Spanish; theatrical trailers; "making of" documentary; bloopers.

Derek Richardson DVD Collection - Now Available:
Click here for Derek Richardson Movies on DVD

Eric Christian Olsen DVD Collection - Now Available:
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Pick Of The Flicks - Recommended Links:
Eugene Levy at Hollywood Cult Movies

Teen Movies Of The New Millennium
Comedy & Slapstick at Hollywood Teen Movies
Tony's Cult Movies, Blockbusters & Classics

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