Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Dumb and Dumber To Blu-ray Movie Review

Dus this thurd moovee take a number to on the franchize?

Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 17, 2015

Hit Comedy follow-ups don't exactly have a stellar track record of living up to, or surpassing in any way, their predecessors, and the first film in a franchise in particular. Ghostbusters II is no Ghostbusters, the many American Pie sequels failed to recapture the raunchy magic of the original, and the list, of course, goes on and on. Dumber and Dumber To follows tradition. It's a fair sequel by every measure, returning the main characters, retaining the same directing tandem, and ramming in a few good jokes along the way, but it's just not the original. Yet considering that the first film lives on even today as something of a fan favorite -- it's too mainstream to be called a "cult classic" -- that holds its value even two decades removed from its debut, it would be almost unfair to berate this film for failing to surpass, the original. Dumb & Dumber To does in many ways replicate the magic of the original -- thank you Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels -- and stands up on its own two (or to) feet as a moderately funny little escape. Ultimately, however, a sluggish pace and a sweeping sense of irrelevancy keep the film down and away from the status enjoyed by its predecessor.

"Look! over there!' Haha, made you look!

After twenty long years, Lloyd (Carrey) and Harry (Daniels) are reunited to the point that they can share a new (mis)adventure. Harry's in need of a new kidney, so they pay a visit to Harry's parents in search for a match. That's a nonstarter, but Harry does come into possession of a quarter-century-old note from an old flame named Fraida Felcher (Kathleen Turner) that leads Harry to believe he has a daughter who could be a match. Fraida informs them that she regrettably gave the child up for adoptions after birth, and she's now living with a wealthy, acclaimed scientist named Dr. Pinchelow (Steve Tom). The doctor has entrusted his adopted daughter Penny (Rachel Melvin) with an important package that could be worth billions. As Harry and Lloyd track her down at a scientific conference, her life falls into danger when her mother Adelle (Laurie Holden) hatches a plot to kill her husband and steal his fortune for herself.

Dumb and Dumber To opens with a classic joke that, if nothing else, will probably be the reason people remember the film. It bridges the gap between the original film and this one (ignoring the "prequel" Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, which doesn't star Carrey or Daniels) much the same way the film's other big endgame joke bridges the gap from this film's start to its far-too-distant conclusion. In between are some scattered laughs -- including a few jokes that hearken back to some of the first film's famous moments -- amidst a lot of generally unfunny, or marginally funny, gags. The picture plays with a fairly patchwork feel and flow. The jokes and the characters rightly play central to the movie, but the supportive pieces feel too dominant even as they largely linger in the background, resulting in a movie that's too long for its own good, a movie that scatters its best moments for the sake of longevity rather than build a more compact yet far more efficient rhythm that might have meant fewer stabs at humor but a better overall frame in which to present the leading men simply doing what they do best: look dumb and have a blast doing it.

If nothing else, however, the movie gets it right almost by default simply through the returning presence of stars Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. Even as some of the verbal jokes and physical gags fail to fire on all those proverbial cylinders, their antics -- the physical looks, the verbal tones, and most importantly the camaraderie -- define the movie and shape the franchise better than story lines or individual gags (which is one of the main reasons why When Harry Met Lloyd flopped so badly). Though Dumb and Dumber To is by no means great cinema or classic comedy, it's well worth a watch if only to return to the insane, inane, and incompressible world these characters inhabit. They're quite good and, even twenty years removed from the original, play the parts so precisely that it's a wonder this movie wasn't filmed immediately after the first and shelved for two decades. Carrey and Daniels remain one of the best one-two punches in Comedy history, and even if the humorous context often fails, one can at least count on them to elevate the film as far as they can and make every scene at least a mild pleasure simply thanks to their natural, dominant, and uproariously funny Dumb and Dumber personas.

Dumb and Dumber To Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Dumb and Dumber To arrives on Blu-ray with a strongly detailed, boldly colored, beautifully crisp, and finely accurate 1080p transfer. The digital photography nearly passes for film in terms of depth and absence of that artificially smooth appearance that's so common to all but the highest end digital shoots. Textures are frequently glorious, with rich, complex details the norm across the board, whether faces, clothing, brickwork, clean lines around the KEN conference, the shaggy faux fir on the (briefly seen, sadly) Mutt Cutts van, or even little bits of wear around Harry's rather spartan apartment seen near film's start. Colors are lively and rich with only a mild push towards warm, evident predominantly in flesh tones. Black levels present no major cause for concern. The image appears free of excess bits of noise, banding, or blockiness. In total, this is a terrific transfer from Universal.

Dumb and Dumber To Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Dumb and Dumber To arrives on Blu-ray with a big and bold DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Music enjoys a wide front end and a healthy, active, and regular surround support structure. Clarity is excellent through the range with a robust low end providing a sense of weight to the proceedings. The track features occasional ambient effects, such as minor chirping birds or a somewhat more aggressive din at the conference. Several potent sound effects are nicely detailed and potent, including a blast of fireworks in chapter nine and several gunshots heard near film's end, the latter accented by the crisp bling of empty brass hitting the floor. Dialogue is evenly presented through the center with a nice bit of natural reverberation at the conference.

Dumb and Dumber To Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Dumb and Dumber To contains a handful of short extra goodies. Inside the Blu-ray case, buyers will find a DVD copy of the film and a voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy.

• Alternate Opening (1080p): That Was Easy (2:19).
• Deleted/Extended Scenes (1080p): Meet Harry's Roommate -- Extended (0:52), Harry Goes Home -- Extended (0:47), Pee Stain Will Help -- Extended (1:43), Harry & Lloyd Take the Bus -- Extended (0:50), Penny Leaves for the Conference -- Extended (2:18), Lottery Ticket -- Extended (1:03), Granny Has the Diamonds -- Extended (2:12), and Tickets Please (0:42).
• Gag Reel (1080p, 7:33).
• "That's Awesome!" -- The Story of Dumb & Dumber To (1080p): This supplement breaks down into several sub-supplements that take a look at several specific pieces of the filmmaking process. Hosted by "Professional Actor" Steve Tom. Below is a breakdown of what's included:
  
  
  • Chapter 1: "I Like It a Lot" -- The Beginning (9:16): This piece touches on the original film's legacy and the process of bringing a true sequel to the screen.
  • Chapter 2: "Gotcha!" -- The Cast: This piece further breaks down into the following available snippets that feature interviews with the performers in question: Jim Carrey Is Lloyd (1:35), Jeff Daniels Is Harry (1:24), Kathleen Turner Is Fraida (1:48), Laurie Holden Is Adele (1:44), Rachel Melvin Is Penny (1:29), and Rob Riggle Is...Well...Two People (1:56).
  • Chapter 2.5: "That's Insane!" -- The Cameos (5:14): A look at some of the famous faces who fill in some of the lower key parts in the movie.
  • Chapter 3: "We're Gunna Need Some Wheels" -- The Cars (4:36): As the title suggests, this piece takes a closer look at some of the vehicles that appear in the movie.
  • Chapter 4: "That's Commitment!" -- The Stunts (6:03): A look at some of the physical demands of the shoot and making a few key stunts.
  • Chapter 5: "There's No Diamonds in Here!" -- The Editorial (7:00): A brief examination of bringing the script to life and a slightly more detailed look at the editing process.
• What's So Smart About Dumb and Dumber To (1080p, 6:17): Cast and crew look at why "dumb" is funny and the physical benefits of humor.

Dumb and Dumber To Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Dumb and Dumber To was never going to top the original, not in the hearts and minds of fans who have absorbed every last nuance the original classic has to offer over a two decade timespan, and probably not in the raw context of the new humor. But the movie has its moments, including two truly funny bits that bookend the film, and sees its greatest triumph in the mere presence of stars Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels who are so convincing and true to form that it's like there wasn't two decades in between canonical Dumb and Dumber movies. It's overlong but well worth a watch for a few memorable laughs and the two leads who carry the film when all else fails, which is more often than not. Universal's Blu-ray release of Dumb & Dumber To features excellent video and audio. Supplements satisfy requirements. Recommended.