Dumb & Dumber (1994)

Directed by: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly | 107 minutes | comedy | Actors: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Lauren Holly, Mike Starr, Karen Duffy, Charles Rocket, Victoria Rowell, Joe Baker, Hank Brandt, Teri Garr, Felton Perry, Cam Neely, Harland Williams, Rob Moran, Brady Bluhm, Brad Lockerman, Kathryn Frick, Zen Gesner, Lawrence Kopp, Connie Sawyer, Lin Shaye, Fred Stoller, Mike Watkis, Diane Kinerk, Lisa Stothard, Sean Gildea, Charles Chun, Helen Boll, Hillary Matthews, Karen Ingram, Jesse Borja

Jim Carrey’s breakthrough came with ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’ (1994) and ‘The Mask’ (1994) in which he displayed his physical humor. Jeff Daniels then appeared in the action thriller “Speed” (1994). But together, that year, Jim and Jeff also introduced us to the dumbest duo ever: Harry and Lloyd. Who is ‘Dumb’ and who is ‘Dumber’ is questionable because both are huge fools. Carrey is Lloyd Christmas, a limousine driver with a flower pot haircut, Daniels is Harry Dunne, a dog groomer with very wacky hair. The boys are then both fired. Tired of their loser life, they decide to travel to Aspen with Harry’s dog mobile. Lloyd wants to give the beautiful Mary (Lauren Holly) back her suitcase that she had forgotten when he drove her to the airport. What follows is a lot of hilarity and stupidity.

Carrey and Daniels are so attuned to each other that it is a great pleasure to watch. Carrey brings the physical humor that is so characteristic of him and Daniels gets to see you from a completely different side than you are used to. Carrey even had the sheath over his front tooth removed for an even crazier look. After the film, Carrey was briefly married to actress Lauren Holly who plays Mary here. Here she only has a supporting role, it is of course all about the bumbling of our ‘heroes’.

The comedy ‘Dumb and Dumber’ is the directorial debut of the Farrelly brothers. They also wrote ‘There’s Something About Mary’ (1998) and ‘Me, Myself & Irene’ (2000). But ‘Dumb and Dumber’ has been called their funniest movie. Due to the success of this film, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003) was later made with two other actors and Harry and Lloyd as teenagers. ‘Dumb and Dumberer’ was not so well received. Here the dialogues are super funny and the stupid humor will make almost everyone laugh. Like Lloyd falling out of a gate or Harry on the toilet. When they drive into Aspen frozen together or pick out the suits for a charity dinner. You just have to see him. The trick Lloyd plays with Seabass in the restaurant is by the way a nod to the movie ‘Something Wild’ (1986) where Jeff Daniels does the same with Ray Liotta. For many, ‘Dumb and Dumber’ is a comedy classic, a slice of silly movie nostalgia. But the rest can certainly enjoy the jokes and pranks of Harry and Lloyd (several times).