First, my score guide:
Quality: This score indicates entertainment value.
0 stars is horrible (think “Cars 2”), while 5 stars is spectacular (think “Raiders of the Lost Ark” or “Dead Poets Society”).
Political: This score addresses political messaging.
0 stars is aggressively anti-Conservative (think “Cars 2” or anything from Michael Moore), while 5 stars is highly pro-Conservative (think “Atlas Shrugged” or “Team America”). 3 stars is apolitical.
Moral/Religious (M/R): This score addresses moral and religious messaging.
0 stars is either intensely immoral (think “Team America”) or all-out, needless assault on Christianity (think “Paul” or “The Lego Movie”). 5 stars is either great moral messaging (think “Kung Fu Panda” and “The Blind Side”) or highly pro-Christian (think the “Narnia” movies and the less intentional, “The Matrix”). 3 stars is inoffensive either way.
Quality: This score indicates entertainment value.
0 stars is horrible (think “Cars 2”), while 5 stars is spectacular (think “Raiders of the Lost Ark” or “Dead Poets Society”).
Political: This score addresses political messaging.
0 stars is aggressively anti-Conservative (think “Cars 2” or anything from Michael Moore), while 5 stars is highly pro-Conservative (think “Atlas Shrugged” or “Team America”). 3 stars is apolitical.
Moral/Religious (M/R): This score addresses moral and religious messaging.
0 stars is either intensely immoral (think “Team America”) or all-out, needless assault on Christianity (think “Paul” or “The Lego Movie”). 5 stars is either great moral messaging (think “Kung Fu Panda” and “The Blind Side”) or highly pro-Christian (think the “Narnia” movies and the less intentional, “The Matrix”). 3 stars is inoffensive either way.
Dumb and Dumber To
Quality – 2 stars, Political – 3 stars, M/R – 1 stars
“Dumb and Dumber 2” is the latest Farrelly Brothers movie, in which Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reprise their roles of Lloyd and Harry (respectively), two disgusting but lovable morons. Twenty years after their original “story” (term used loosely), these witless buddies hit the road to find Harry’s child, after Harry informs Lloyd he needs a kidney transplant.
That’s basically the plot. Okay, we also have dangerous villains, big money, and super-science, but these are hopelessly beyond our heroes’ comprehension. No biggie—it’s a Farrelly movie.
Being a male of our species, I like Farrelly movies. The dumber, the stupider, the ridiculouser—the better. It’s a guy thing. In fact, studies show most marriages fail due to money, infidelity, or the male’s insistence upon renting Farrelly movies. But since early gems like, “There’s Something About Mary,” “Dumb and Dumber,” and “Kingpin,” the Farrelly’s have faded, producing debacles like “The Heartbreak Kid,” “Hall Pass,” and if rumors are correct, Mary Landrieu’s 2014 Senatorial Campaign.
Career-wise, the Farrelly’s and Jim Carrey are on life support, and while better than recent duds, “Dumb and Dumber To” does little to revive their comic prestige. All these guys needed a new hit, but it’s not happening. Not this time.
The Farrelly’s used to shock us with one hilarious gross-out moment after another—sort of like great horror films, but with laughs instead of screams. In “Dumb and Dumber To,” the gags are grosser than ever (one nursing home bit will leave even the sickest viewers cringing), but they don’t jump out anymore. Instead, these moments lumber up to you; awkwardly, predictably. Ever listen to someone labor through a joke when they lack timing? Same thing.
Sure, “Dumb and Dumber To” still has some good laughs, and teenage boys will still enjoy surviving the nauseating moments—it’s just what they do. But for the rest of us, watching two tired actors stumbling through an occasionally funny ick-fest is just…well…I need another word…foolish.
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