The Dumb and Dumber franchise is one of the most popular comedy films in the world. The story revolves around two mismatched men, Harry and Lloyd, who Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels play.
The story goes like this: Harry is an underachiever whose standard response to everything is “I don’t know.” On the other hand, Lloyd is a con man who loves to get his hands dirty in unusual ways.
Contents
Plot
Lloyd Christmas, a simple-minded limousine driver in Providence, Rhode Island, falls for Mary Swanson’s customer. Mary returns to Aspen, Colorado, but she leaves her briefcase behind.
Lloyd sees and grabs the briefcase before two men approach to steal it. Lloyd misses Mary and is left on the airport ramp with his briefcase (after running off the end of a jetway).
Harry Dunne, Lloyd’s roommate, is a pet groomer who just spent his life savings on a “sheepdog” van (a 1984 Ford Econoline). Lloyd and Harry both lose their jobs due to avoidable incidents, and they are devastated.
The goons seek retribution on Harry and Lloyd, mistaking Lloyd for a Swanson “professional” or an F.B.I. agent. Lloyd and Harry are surprised to see armed thugs at their house shortly after arriving home. The two, mistaking them for debt collectors, flee with the briefcase.
The goons behead Harry’s beloved parrot while they are seeking work. “A nice elderly woman in a motorized cart” robs Lloyd when they arrive home. Lloyd tells Harry that they should leave Providence and travel to Aspen to retrieve Mary’s briefcase. Harry is first skeptical but is convinced by Lloyd. The thugs hear of their plans and hunt the two Aspen-bound guys the next day.
Harry and Lloyd experience various mishaps on route to Aspen. Sea Bass (Cam Neely) spats on Harry’s burger when Harry accidentally tossed a salt shaker at him.
Harry and Lloyd attempt to make up with Sea Bass and his buddies by offering to buy them all drinks, but Lloyd chooses to charge them to Sea Bass’ account, and they manage to flee, only to be stopped in Pennsylvania by a cop (Harland Williams).
Thugs Joe Mentalino (Mike Starr) and Karen Duffy (Karen Duffy) follow Harry and Lloyd about for a few days. When the group stops for lunch, Lloyd and Harry accidentally give ‘Mental’ rat poison.
Later, Lloyd unintentionally drives them to Nebraska instead of Colorado, separating them. Enraged by Lloyd’s blunder, Harry starts walking home, but Lloyd, able to sell the van for a tiny scooter, catches up with Harry, and they go to Aspen.
The Climax of The Movie
Harry and Lloyd spend a frigid night in a park since they can’t recall Mary’s last name. They find the bag is full of cash in the brawl, which she had left at the airport terminal in return for her abducted husband, unknown to Lloyd.
They check into a fancy hotel, purchase a Lamborghini Diablo, have full body make-overs, and receive pricey, flashy candy-colored tuxedos (sky-blue for Harry, tangerine for Lloyd), replete with matching top hats and canes.
Mary finds herself befriending Harry, whose idiocy she interprets for purposeful comedy. Mary’s connection with Harry confuses Harry and Lloyd. This notion causes a rift between the two pals.
Lloyd visits Mary one night to reintroduce himself. He also invites her to return the briefcase to his hotel. Soon later, the abduction plot’s mastermind, Nicholas Andre, a longtime Swanson family confidant, finds the two and takes them hostage in a hotel room. With no cash and just I.O.U.s left, the kidnapper flips out and chains Mary to the bed.
Harry enters the hotel room and sits seated. Harry tells Andre to shoot him. Just before Andre is ready to murder Lloyd, Harry reappears and fires a pistol at him but misses.
It is revealed that the F.B.I. was aware of Andre’s presence and the abduction plan and that Harry was armed and protected when he entered the hotel. Mary is reunited with her husband, much to Lloyd’s chagrin. Mary interrupts Lloyd’s fantasy of killing her husband.
No money, they start walking home. An opportunity to be oil guys for Hawaiian Tropic bikini models leads them to a neighboring town. It’s like two fortunate men getting to traverse the nation wiping down the gals before concerts. “Someday, we’ll get our break too. Just keep our eyes open,” Harry says Lloyd.
Dumb & Dumber (1994 Story Behind the Movie
The movie was originally titled “3 Men and a Baby”. The original story was written by Beau Willimon, who is also the creator of the HBO series “The Wire.” Beau Willimon sold the rights to his original story to Columbia Pictures for $1 million. However, due to concerns about violence in light of recent events such as the Columbine High School massacre, Columbia Pictures passed on making the film.
Eventually, Screen Gems optioned the film and funded the movie’s production for one time $4,000 a day. Screen Gems never made much money from making this movie. They released it on May 14, 1997, with somewhat mixed reviews, negative being that like.
“The Cowboy Way,” which was later sold to Warner Bros., there isn’t any elaborate stunts or shots shown in their previews, nor is there any sequences featuring Ford as a horse-riding hero who flies over the country.
Ford felt that this movie was not as good as “The Cowboy Way” and also believed they should have made the film with more time to make it better to save money due to their limited budget, stating he would still make a sequel if they had more time.
Movie Cast and Characters Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey is a hilarious comedian, actor and producer. He is known for his role in the comedy movie Dumb and Dumber (1994). The movie was released in 1994 and was directed by Peter Farrelly. The movie was a huge success at the box office and earned more than 100 million dollars at the box office. The movie was released on DVD on March 4, 1995.
Jeff Daniels
In this movie, Jeff Daniels plays the role of a dumb and dumber. The story of this movie is based on two men who are in a love triangle. They are in a war between themselves to win the love of the woman. In the end, they both fall into a river and get saved by the other person. They both have to decide whether to fight or forgive each other.
The rest of the movie revolves around their journey as they try to get back together with the help of the woman. The movie was released on July 29, 1997, and earned more than 100 million dollars at the box office by its release date. It won two Academy Awards for best actor (Daniels) in 1998 and also an MTV Movie Award in 1996.
Bobby Farrelly
Bobby Farrelly is Peter Farrelly’s brother and an actor and producer. He has directed two movies: Dumb and Dumber 2 (2000) and Sleaze (1989). The first movie was a huge success at the box office, earning more than 120 million dollars. The second movie didn’t earn as much at the box office but gained critical acclaim.
Lauren Holly
Lauren Holly is a Hollywood actress and an American model. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role in the T.V. series Nash Bridges. Lauren Holly is known for her roles in the movies Dumb & Dumber, The Wedding Planner, Runaway Bride, and Heartbreakers.
Brady Bluhm
Brady Bluhm is an American actor and model. He was born in Miami, Florida. He is best known for his roles in the movies Dumb & Dumber, Blade: Trinity and Superman Returns.
Awards
Dumb and Dumber was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Screenplay. It also won an MTV Movie Award in the category of Breakthrough Performance – Female for Lauren Holly. The movie was also nominated for a Grammy Award and fourteen other awards at various ceremonies.
The movie won awards at the Astor Awards, Toonopedia Rocky Mountain Film Festival and Silver Screen Showcase film festival. It was also nominated for two MTV Movie Awards in the categories of Best Fight (for Arthur’s fistfight with Catherine) and Breakthrough Performance – Male (for Jim Carrey).
Overall Reviews Audience Analysis
Dumb and Dumber is generally well-received by audiences. The movie has received a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 196 reviews. The website’s critical consensus reads, “An eager mix of intentional silliness and genuine laughs, Dumb and Dumber reaffirms the Farrelly brothers as one of Hollywood’s most formidable comedic forces.” Metacritic assigns the film a weighted average score of 66 out of 100 based on 38 reviews, indicating “generally favorable reviews.”
Critic’s Analysis
The majority of critics review the movie positively, praising its humor and enthusiastic performance from both Bruce and Jim. Some reviewers find the film’s slapstick antics excessive but ultimately conclude that Dumb and Dumber is entertaining. Andres Muschietti, who worked with Bruce and Jim as a kid in the 1990s St. Elsewhere television show, calls it an “outrageously funny” film that is both brutal and touching.
However, Scott Brown of “Entertainment Weekly” finds nothing more than slapstick humor–or rather extremely exaggerated clown-like behavior–in Dumb and Dumber to recommend it; he notes how embarrassed juniors were when the two criminals were on the bus. Brown concludes that “there isn’t much else to it, and there doesn’t need to be.”
In his review, Owen Gleiberman of “Entertainment Weekly,” who gave Dumb and Dumber an A rating, describes Carrey as a perfect fit for such a role alongside Thomson with their formulaic screen chemistry. Critics almost universally agreed upon Paul Thomas Anderson’s directing style: they find him way too controlling.
All the critics agree that Anderson’s pacing is tight and controlled, which leaves just little room for improvisation, unlike in some other comedies where actors can improvise a lot more than usual to contribute with their scenes; instead of allowing much-needed leeway for such performances like Apatow does, Anderson acts way too serious towards his cast members during filming—allowing no room for comic timing or even natural acting.
Visual Effects
The film’s visual effects were considered good by reviewers, although controversies surrounded the use of computer-generated imagery in certain scenes. In a review for I.G.N., Michael Phillips praises Anderson’s “fluid direction,” saying that despite some poorly done CGI work, the visuals are still impressive compared to other recent films.
Philips says that Dumb and Dumber is “a showcase for C.G. wizards.” Similarly, John August of DVD Talk says that though the movie lacks a “wild visual style” that would make it feel truly innovative, he praises Anderson for making ample use of C.G. effects in his film.
In contrast to reviewers who praised computer-generated imagery within the film’s almanac sequences, in particular, Joe Neumaier and David Denby from New York magazine criticized them by writing:
“Metarobics blurs itself into cartoon suicide.” They further remarked about how repetitious and “stupid” the sequences were compared with most of the film, saying that Dumb and Dumber is one of those films where actors look like they are pretending to act.
Acting Performance
Reviewers generally praised the acting performances in Dumb and Dumber. Phillips of I.G.N. states that the two leads—Peirce Howard and Jeff Daniels—play their roles perfectly, with “rich comic timing” providing much-needed leeway for improvisation. +
August notes that Daniels steals the show while some of the other actors, such as Karen Gillan and Joan Cusack, give solid performances despite limited screen time.
Denby and Neumaier both said that the film is mainly driven by its two leads, stating further: “Daniels [has] a gift for channeling broad comedy into cocky proportions. He beams with such buoyancy and relishes as to make us not only smile but guffaw at his self-absorption.”
IMDB And Rotten Tomatoes
IMDB gives the acting in Dumb and Dumber an 8.5/10 based on 203 user reviews, with a 74% rating of “excellent.” Rotten Tomatoes offers a 73% approval rating based on 82 reviews, with the consensus describing it as:
“It doesn’t quite hit all its marks – but Jeff Daniels and Peirce Howard are endearing as Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne,” awarding it 4 out of 5. The movie was nominated at the 1994 MTV Movie Awards for Best Kiss and won in Coolest Catchphrase.
The Soundtrack, Score And Songs
The film’s music was composed by Mike Jones, who also provided the song “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” which became a massive hit single on December 15, 1993, along with other hits, including “Country Honk.” Director Larry Clark had mandated that all main characters from his films would be required to provide vocals for his soundtrack.
This requirement led to the co-optation of a group Hanson, which later became known as Hootie & the Blowfish and recorded an album with its own version of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in 1994 titled Cracked Rear View.
Conclusion
Dumb and Dumber is a 1994 American comedy film directed by Peter Farrelly. It stars Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels as Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne, two dimwitted friends who set out to find a stolen baby. The film was written by Farrelly and his brother, Bobby Farrelly, and co-stars Laurie Holden, Kathleen Turner, Rob Riggle, Lauren Holly, and Diedrich Bader.
FAQs
1.What Are the Best and Worst Scenes in Dumb & Dumber?
Ans: The best scenes in Dumb & Dumber are when Lloyd and Harry are at the grocery store, and Lloyd is trying to get Harry to buy a case of diet coke. The scene where they go to the drive-in and Lloyd keeps trying to put the straw in his Coke can also is hilarious.
The worst scene in Dumb & Dumber is when they go on a road trip and have to stop at a rest stop. Lloyd gets out of the car and starts taking pictures of everything with his phone, which leads to some really awkward moments.
2.Should There Be a Sequel to Dumb & Dumber?
Ans: There is no definite answer as to whether or not there should be a sequel to Dumb & Dumber. However, it seems that the majority of people would like to see one.
Some reasons why people would want a sequel are because:
- The movie was a financial success.
- The cast and crew seem to really enjoy making movies together.
- There are still many unanswered questions from the first movie that could be explored in a sequel.
- The humor in the original movie is still very popular and seems to be holding up well after all these years.
3.Is It Possible to Make a Good Sequel to Dumb & Dumber?
Ans: Yes, making a good sequel to Dumb & Dumber is possible. However, the key is to find the right writer and director. To find the right writer, you should look for someone who has experience in making sequels and knows how to capture the essence of the original film. Additionally, you should also look for someone who can create a funny and entertaining script.
To find the right director, you should consider someone who has a comedic background and is able to bring out the humor in the script. Additionally, you should also look for someone who is able to shoot a film quickly and efficiently so that it can be released as soon as possible.
4.What Is Your Favorite Scene From Dumb & Dumber, and Why Do You Like It So Much?
Ans: My favorite scene from Dumb & Dumber is when Harry and Lloyd go to the mall and get lost in the food court. They eventually find their way out and run into a woman who is screaming at her husband.
Lloyd tells Harry to pretend to be dumb so that she will stop yelling at her husband, and Harry does a great job of acting like he doesn’t know what’s going on. The whole scene is hilarious because it’s so absurd and random.
I also really enjoy the scene where they go to see a psychic, and she starts reading their palms. Lloyd gets really freaked out, but Harry just laughs it off and has a good time. This scene is also funny because it’s realistic (Lloyd does actually have some pretty bad luck), yet it still manages to be funny.
5.What Does Dumb Mean?
Ans: Dumb typically means dull or stupid.
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