Plot: What’s it about?
Looking back two decades, 1994 was a pretty darn good year for movies and, more to the point, it was a very good year for Mr. Jim Carrey. I don’t think I need to explain it, but I tend to be the long-winded type, so here goes…The year began with the unexpected success of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. This put Carrey on the map and paved the way for the success of his next film (released about six months later) The Mask. In case you were wondering, was also the debut of Cameron Diaz who has carved out a nice little career for herself as well. The holidays brought us Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne in Dumb and Dumber, probably the most enjoyable Jim Carrey film of them all. It’s hard to believe that it’s been twenty years since we were introduced to these bozos, but yes time does fly. 2003 brought us a rather lackluster prequel entitled Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, but with the absence of both Carrey and Daniels – it just wasn’t the same. Amazingly enough, the Farrelly Brothers (Peter and Bobby), who directed the film were still considered to be on a Jim Carrey vehicle. It wasn’t until There’s Something About Mary that they really and truly made a name for themselves. Ahh…memories. Without further ado – Dumb and Dumber.
Best friends Lloyd (Jim Carrey) and Harry (Jeff Daniels) are down on their luck. Lloyd is a limousine driver and Harry the owner of a mobile pet grooming service (Mutt Cutts). However when Lloyd meets Mary (Lauren Holly), a passenger in his limo, he seeks to return the briefcase that she left in his car. Unbeknownst to Lloyd, the briefcase actually contains a sizable amount of money that Mary is using to get her husband back. Hell bent on returning the briefcase (and to get to know Mary), the duo set off across country from Rhode Island to Aspen, Colorado. Along the way they meet a wide variety of folks that make the adventure that much more memorable. They’re also being pursued by two thugs: Joe (Mike Starr) and J.P. (Karen Duffy) who aren’t sure if Lloyd are the smartest guys they’ve ever met or the total opposite. Of course when push comes to shove, all hell breaks loose.
Dumb and Dumber isn’t the kind of movie you watch for the plot – it’s more of a backdrop. Of all the performances that Jim Carrey has turned in, dramatic and comedic, I’d say that he’s probably most identifiable with Lloyd Christmas or Ace Ventura. The movie has aged pretty well, I still get a chuckle out of many of the gags and I’m writing this review because the long-awaited sequel, Dumb and Dumber To, is set to come out. I’m willing to bet that anyone reading this review has seen the movie and if not, good lord folks – go see it! This is a modern comedy classic and I’ve lost count of the number of times that I’ve chuckled and squealed with delight. Carrey and Daniels are an amazing duo and it’s nice to see two such accomplished actors (Daniels is currently in an HBO drama – The Newsroom) let their guard down, have fun and make us laugh. Those familiar with the Farrelly Brothers’ films will notice some faces seen in later movies and Teri Garr offers a nice supporting role. If anything, Dumb and Dumber is a must own and deserves a place on every movie-lovers’ shelf.
Video: How’s it look?
Released back in the early days of Blu-ray, Dumb and Dumber hasn’t really gotten the HD treatment that it deserves. Perhaps the sequel will prompt a more robust special edition, but still the Blu-ray is several years old. Having said that, the 1.85:1 VC-1 HD image leaves a little to be desired. I realize that technology plays a part in how good a movie looks, but the overall image quality is a bit dull, flat and lifeless. Bad? No. Just not anything special. There’s a bit of grain in several of the lighter shots, some compression issues persist and though the flesh tones and detail leave little to the imagination, it just seems a bit bland. Fans won’t really mind, however, but if ever there’s a film that’s in need of a new transfer – this is right up there.
Audio: How’s it sound?
Likewise the Dolby TrueHD soundtrack isn’t exactly one that will shake the room, rather it’s indicative of a comedic track. The Farrelly Brothers’ films have always had some pretty good soundtracks to accompany their films and this is no exception. Though they might seem dated, songs like Dead Eye Dick’s “New Age Girl” and “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” by Crash Test Dummies are a staple of the film and fun to sing along to. Vocals are strong and clean and surrounds chime in during some of the action sequences. It’s not anything spectacular, but it’s a straight-forward mix that’s sure to satisfy.
Supplements: What are the extras?
There are no new supplements to this Blu-ray release as they’ve all been ported over from the special edition DVD. Still, it’s nice to have them included so we’ll take a look.
- Still Dumb After All These Years – With the lack of Jim Carrey, this supplement doesn’t really have the same “kick” as it would with him participating, still this features some interviews with the cast and crew (the Farrelly’s aren’t present either).
- Trailers – Three in all with some theatrical previews as well as a TV spot.
- Extras – Some of the cast looks back on some of the more noted scenes in the movie – again Carrey is a no-show.
- Additional Scenes – Just over a half hour of deleted scenes are shown. Some are funny, but most were left out of the final cut with good reason.
