Dumb and Dumber – That’s a nice set of hooters you got there!
Oh man, I LOVED this movie as a kid. It was one of a hand full of tapes I had that I watched over and over. Along with Mallrats, Ace Ventura, The Mask, Pulp Fiction, and a few others that I can’t think of at the moment.
To start this out, let’s look at a few facts about the movie and the original trailer.
Now that we’re past the formalities, let’s talk about the movie. I decided I wanted to watch the newest entry into this vast cinematic universe. When I started watching it my kids sat down to watch it with me and as soon as I said “oh, this is a sequel” they got mad that I had not shown them the first one prior to this one. Naturally we had to stop that one and put on the original Dumb and Dumber.
I was 12 years old when this came out, so I’m fairly certain I did not see it in theaters. My parents got me the tape in ’95 or ’96 after I got a VCR from my dad’s friend Darryl. The rule was I could have the VCR in my room, but if my dad found any adult tapes I would lose it. Good thing I had a REAL good hiding spot.
Anyway, like most of Jim Carrey’s movies I fell in love with this one the first time I watched it. Everything about this movie was great! I loved just how stupid they were, but yet at some times they weren’t. The selling the dead bird to the blind kid gag, I mean it’s golden!
I did realize quickly that while watching this movie for the first time with my 13, 11, 8, and 5 year old (my 16 year old couldn’t be bothered to hand out with dad) that there is a TON of adult humor in this movie. There are so many sex jokes. I mean, at one point Harry and Lloyd are in the hotel sharing a bath Lloyd is straight up using a cup to listen to the adjoining room have sex.
When I met Mary, I got that old fashioned romantic feeling, where I’d do anything to bone her.
Lloyd Christmas – Dumb and Dumber (1994)
I mean some of the things Lloyd say’s is straight up wrong, which in part is what makes it so funny. Because as a character he doesn’t get it at all. That’s part of the beauty of this film, the complete ignorance of the characters and what they are doing, yet the awareness of the film it what it’s saying. It’s pointing out absurdities in these idiots.
These guys can’t figure out how to tie their shows straight, yet they know the difference of a cardigan and pull over. They live on the edge of sexuality, but still find humor in teasing each other.
One scene that I forgot about was when Lloyd was in the bathroom and the wall reads “be here at 2:15am on March 25h for a good time” and shocker, that’s what time it was. And who walks in the door? But its Sea Bass from the earlier scene. The overly macho dude in a truck stop bathroom “looking for a good time”. They make an obvious “Macho dude is gay” joke here AND he’s a rapist, all without saying anything directly about it. Ok, yeah, I mean Sea Bass says “I’ll show you a good time” then reveals his banana hammock, but still. After this Harry proceeds to mock Lloyd for his near gay encounter. Something I promise you EVERY male has done with their friends.
It was at this point my kids looked up at me and said “What is this rated?” and “Why are you letting us watch this dad?” Cause it’s a classic kid, now shut up and watch.
There there’s probably one of the most memorable exchanges from the whole movie. I mean, really it’s just he last line that gets quoted, but here’s the whole thing.
Lloyd Christmas:
Lloyd and Mary Dumb and Dumber (1994)
What are the chances of a guy like you and a girl like me… ending up together?
Mary Swanson:
Not good.
Lloyd Christmas:
Not good like one in a hundred?
Mary Swanson:
I’d say more like one in a million.
Lloyd Christmas:
So you’re telling me there’s a chance?
Over the last 25 years I have quoted this movie move that humanly possible to count. Half the time anymore I quote it without even knowing it. To me this is one o the greatest comedies of the 90’s, and probably pretty high up on my all time comedy list. I should make a top 10 ranking of comedies…
I plan to watch and review all three movies in this franchise. So up next is Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry met Lloyd.
Final Verdict
If you have not seen this movie, please go see it. It’s amazing. Though I do wonder how it would perform with todays’ sensibilities.
Dumb and Dumber stats
Production Budget: $17 million
Domestic Total Gross: $127,175,374
Foreign Total Gross: $120,000,000
Total Box Office Gross: $247,275,374
Starring: Jim Carrey & Jeff Daniels
Directed by: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly
Written by: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly, Bennett Yellin
Distributor: New Line
Release Date: December 16, 1994
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 1 hrs. 41 min.
MPAA Rating: PG-13