By Troy Ribeiro
London, Nov 20 (IANS): Film: "Dumb And Dumber To"; Cast: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Rob Riggle, Laurie Holden, Rachel Melvin, Steve Tom, Kathleen Turner; Directors: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly; Rating: *1/2
"Dumb and Dumber Three!" is what you will wait for if you like moronic humour. Yes, the idiosyncrasies in "Dumb and Dumber to" grow on you, while watching this film. You'll smile, chuckle and fantasise, as to what the next franchise will offer? For honestly, your mind can never settle on this film, it's too dumb to ingest.
This edition that comes 20 years after its predecessor is a poor show. The look, feel and antics of the rubber faced duo dummies Lloyd (Jim Carrey) and Harry (Jeff Daniels) in this film seem to have hit the screen a little too late.
The narration takes off from where it left in "Dumb and Dumber". After Lloyd is rejected by Mary Swanson, he goes into a coma. The film remains in suspended animation for two decades with Harry faithfully visiting him, at the institution on a weekly basis, to pamper him.
Over a period of time, Harry has his own medical issues. He needs a kidney transplant. So when he reveals his predicament to Lloyd, he realises that his friend was pretending to be in coma all along only for a gag!
Now jokes aside, the issue is serious and the duo gear up to find a kidney for Harry. Their only solution is to find a genetic match to enable the transplant.
Their journey leads them through a long convoluted route which includes revisiting Harry's old foster parents, friends and their long-lost love Fraida Flecher (Kathaleen Turner) who wrote to Harry years back informing him that she was pregnant with his child Fanny Felcher (Rachel Melvin) also known as Penny Pinchelow.
Laced with sub-plots that include a bit of romance and suspense, along with an assassination conspiracy, the gags are passable, and ultimately underwhelming.
What keeps you glued to the seat are the straight-laced performances and anticipation for the funny-bone to tickle. Though independently Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are brilliant actors, their on-screen chemistry now feels jaded. Playing clueless, nitwit grownups stirring a raging sea of stupidity, their once radiant lustre is now missing.
Rachel Melvin as the dumb daughter Penny adds some bright spark to the otherwise witless comedy.
Given that the original film's stars, directors and screenwriter all contribute to this new installment, you would expect the outcome to be brilliant. But instead, what you get is a disgusting display of deprived and vulgar recycled gags onscreen which make you chuckle sporadically and keep you wondering if they'll ever dare make another edition of the series with an equally retarded title - "Dumb and Dumber Three!"