Day 20: Dumb and Dumber

"The first time I set eyes on Mary Swanson, I just got that old fashioned romantic feeling where I'd do anything to bone her."

Films can have a multitude of functions in everyday life. They can make us cry, fill us with fear, move us, and make us laugh. It goes without saying that there are films in the realm of cinema that are for any mood and any person. Because we’ve handled films with a dramatic flair as of late, let’s go in the direction of the light and humorous. More  specifically, let’s talk about a film that’s all about turning the mind off and being dumb. Extra emphasis should be put on the dumb as today’s film is the quotable “Dumb and Dumber”. Released in 1994, “Dumb and Dumber” reinvigorated gross out humor in film and further ascended Jim Carrey’s career. Written and directed by the Farrelly Brothers, the film doesn’t even pretend to really care about the plot or any semblance of adult humor. Instead, it’s happy to be wallowing with its pair of idiot savants who continuously make mistakes that are cringe inducing, but are overflowing with comedic benefits.

Despite how thin it is, the plot basically revolves around two friends, Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) and Harry Dunn (Jeff Daniels). Both are inept in almost everything they do, as well as clueless as to what is socially acceptable. Despite their mental futility, Lloyd and Harry know how important they are to one another as their friendship stretches back to their early teens. Their friendship is so deep that Harry is willing to take a cross country road trip, from Maryland to Colorado, with Lloyd as a means to quench Lloyd’s lovelorn thirst for a woman he’s known only for a few moments. Of course, as is the case with imbecilic characters, things are never that easy. Through chances of fate and pure stupidity, Harry and Lloyd find themselves in possession of a briefcase that, unbeknownst to them, is an item sought after by a pair of hit men. Said briefcase belongs to Lloyd’s crush Mary (Lauren Holly), who has found herself in a ransom case. Yet, let’s not get too wrapped up in these plot points. Certainly they can deliver some laughs, but most of the hilarity emanates from the comedic duo of Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels.

To no one’s surprise, Carrey’s physical presence in the film is superb. From his basic appearance to the numerous contortions he makes with his face, Carrey is hard to stop watching as he makes every scene pop with comic potential. Initially, this is bad as Carrey’s presence overwhelms his on screen partner in Jeff Daniels, but after a scene or two, Daniels comedic ability takes flight. Daniels, known at the time as a great dramatic actor, makes for an ample sidekick to Carrey’s absurd Lloyd. Where Carrey is over the top in most cases, Daniels is leveling things out by underplaying a scene with a quiet, but discernible child like enthusiasm. This is most evident in the mannerisms he instills in his character such as his dopey, baritone laugh. So, what we have is an equilibrium between Daniels and Carrey, as they gleefully play off one another. The enthusiasm and enjoyment that seems to be developing between the two creates a great sense of chemistry, as they seemingly channel a bond that goes beyond the running time of a movie.

It’s through the assistance of Carrey and Daniels that the Farrelly Brothers put their vast amount of gags and dimwitted lines to the test, and I must admit they work rather brilliantly. Seeing Daniels and Carrey participate in the even the most absurd bits, one which involves the disposal of urine in a car, is down right hilarious. But, for as entertaining as it is to see Daniels and Carrey work with the outrageous, it’s even more enjoyable to see them take an extremely idiotic line and deliver it with blissful ignorance. It’s from this ignorance that these hilarious lines not only make the characters of Harry and Lloyd far more lovable, but it also makes the experience far more enjoyable considering they are so damn quotable. From throw away lines like, “They have the Monkees. They were a major influence on the Beatles” to lines more plot oriented, one would be hard pressed to not quote at least one line from this film upon its completion. This is not say the lines are earth shattering by any stretch of the imagination, but they’re so damn absurd and delivered with such great zeal by the actors that they’re infectious. The aforementioned sentence could also be applied to the film as a whole. It’s an enjoyable escapist film that doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not. Featuring a hilarious duo that cashes in on almost every comedic opportunity, “Dumb and Dumber” is a film that you can watch when you’re in need of a laugh, and when your brain demands some free time.