Dumb and Dumber To

Long Awaited(?) Sequel is Everything You'd Expect...and Less

When word was first spread that there was a sequel to Dumb and Dumber in the works, many questions arose - Why now? Aren't they too old? and How much more potty humor exists in the English language? In this movie, the Farley Brothers answer all three.

DUmb and Dumber To couldn't quite pick up where the original left off, so it picks up at the earliest it can...20 years later. It finds Harry Dunn (Jeff Daniels) still living in Providence, Rhode Island. Most of his days are spent visiting his friend Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey), who has been long-since committed to a mental institute. Still heartbroken over Mary "Sampsonite," he hasn't spoken in 20 years but when Harry breaks the news that he needs a kidney transplant, Lloyd suddenly snaps out of it.   A visit to Harry's parents reveals that he has a long-lost daughter and that's just where the story begins. The deliriously dimwitted duo then embarks on a comedic odyssey to find her and save Harry's life.  Along the way, they pull all their old stunts, leaving a trail of destruction wherever they go.  Along the way they are even re-united with their former vehicle, the "shaggin' waggon," which has been remarkably well-maintained for 20 years.

It should come as no surprise that this film features many, many recycled gags and punch lines from the original.  If you thought the first Dumb and Dumber was gross, immature, or anything of that sort, you'll be absolutely astounded when you see this cinematic masterpiece; it tops all other comedies when it comes to rude, crude, and bathroom humor.  Instead of singing Mockingbird to the criminal they end up giving a ride to, they decide to teach him a game.  "Hey" Lloyd asks. "Wanna play 'he who smelt it?" No, it's not as bad as it sounds. It's even grosser and that's not even the worse it gets.  That said, if you want to laugh and don't mind very immature humor, this is not a movie to miss. It all depends on how low you're willing to stoop.  If you loved the original, though, or even the prequel, watch this movie.  It's worth it for a die-hard fan.

2.5 stars.

The Way Way Back

Summer Dramedy Has It's Moments, Though It's Nothing Spectacular.

In honor of it being summer again, I thought I'd post a review of a new summer film.  While lying in bed with the flu, I discovered this flick, which had somehow escaped my knowledge.

The Way Way Back is the story of Duncan, a moody adolescent.  He and his mother (Toni Collette) are spending the summer in an New England beach town with her boyfriend Trent (Steve Carrell) and his obnoxious daughter who wants nothing to do with Duncan.  With no friends around and a conflicted relationship with his father, Duncan hates his life.  He doesn't see any way for things to get better, but one day he chances across a small amusement park where he finds a friend in the manger.  Owen (Sam Rockwell ) is an arrested adolescent who takes the lonely Duncan under his wing.  Working at the park provides Duncan with just the escape he needs, but meanwhile, new problems are constantly brewing back home.  Although he resents his mother for bringing him on the vacation in the first place, his relationship with Trent is bad and as he learns more about the man, it only gets worse.  The cute girl next door, though (AnnaSophia Robb), keeps things interesting.

This is actually a very enjoyable movie up until the very end.  Most of the cast is very good.  Seeing Steve Carrell as a lazy jerk was different, but he pulled it off alright.  Most of the cast is good, including Allison Janney who gives a screen stealing performance as a loud, divorcee neighbor.  The movie is well acted and primarily well written, but the ending left me so disappointed.  On the whole, though, it's not a bad film by any means, just not one that left me satisfied.

2.5 Stars.

The World's End

Awful Apocalyptic Spoof Falls Short of Every Possible Mark.

I suppose I really shouldn't expect quality entertainment from Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.  The British comedic stars who brought us Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz are back with a film that's even worse than the first two.  Although I enjoyed Hot Fuzz somewhat, it was by no means a quality film.  This movie, however, tops even Shaun of the Dead for stupid comedic farces.

The World's End actually starts off as a somewhat decent movie.  It begins with five British school boys celebrating their last day of school by attempting to hit all 12 of their town's pubs in one night.  This epic pub crawl is known as the "golden mile."  Although they almost finish, they decide to call it quits early and head for the hills, just two pubs shy of completing their goal.  It was a life changing pinnacle for Gary King (Simon Peg) the group's leader.

Years later, we find Gary telling the story of the golden mile that almost was to people in an AA meeting.  Although years have come and gone, he has never been able to move on and live a productive life.  Following a suggestion from one of his AA comrades, though, he decides to reunite with his four old friends and take another shot at the golden mile.  Although his former friends Andy (Nick Frost), Oliver (Martin Freeman), Steven (Paddy Cosidine), and Peter (Eddie Marsden), all have good jobs and nice quiet lives, Gary convinces them to join him in their hometown of Newton - Haven for another pub crawl to finish what they started so many years ago.

Basically, this is a decent movie until the apocalyptic stuff starts.  I won't go into too much detail, but let's just say it goes from being an enjoyable film about five old friends reuniting to a stupid film about five old friends fighting evil robots in about five minutes.  Such a disappointment.  The only enjoyable part was Nick Frost, who took a break from his typical role of a bumbling idiot to play an uptight laqyer who disapproves of Gary and his antics. This movie didn't impress me but if you enjoy stupid, apocalyptic farces, be my guest.  Just don't expect too much.  The World's End had one of the worst endings I've ever seen.

1.5 Stars.

Endless Love

Sappy Rom-Drom Would Bore Even Nicholas Sparks.

It's common these days for most movies to be at least somewhat clique, but this chick flick tops them all.  Not even kidding.  If cliche were a movie, it would be Endless Love.

Every character in this film is a walking cliche, quite literally.  Let me explain.  The movie starts at a high school graduation where we first meet the pair of star-crossed lovers.  David Elliot (Alex Pettyfer) is your typical working class kid, the son of a humble, blue collar mechanic.  Jade Butterfield (Gabriella Wilde) is your typical high society beauty, the daughter of a wealthy doctor.  He plans on running his father's small auto body shop, while she plans on going pre-med at Brown University.  David is admiring Jade from afar, unable to talk to her, but his obnoxious friend Mason tells him not to waste his time, that a girl so beautiful and so rich could never be interested in the likes of him.  Very shortly thereafter, however, Jade and her family come to dinner at the incredibly upscale inn and restaurant where David and Mason work as parking valets.  While Jade accidentally drops something, their eyes meet for the first time and that's really where their story begins.

Is that cliche enough for you yet? I'll continue.  It's been stated that Jade's family is very wealthy, but they are also still recovering from the loss of Jade's older brother who was lost to them two years previously.  Aside from that, though, her family couldn't be anymore cliche.  Her arrogant father (Bruce Greenwood) isn't impressed by David and doesn't consider him a suitable match for his daughter while her impressionable mother (Joely Richardson) finds him charming.  Her older brother (Rhys Wakefield) is a college slacker who is an obvious disappointment to his businesslike father.   David and Jade's romance takes off, but her snobbish father will do just about anything to keep them apart, ignoring all of David's great qualities.  This isn't a bad film, there just isn't much originality here.  If you're looking for something of the sweet, romantic sort, stick with Dear John or The Notebook.  Watch this if you want, just don't expect anything new of exciting.

2.5 Stars.