As a child of ’90s era comedies, Dumb and Dumber stood atop the mountain for me. The Farrelly Brothers had arguably the best run of smash comedies in the 90’s. They were unstoppable,  directing such classics as Dumb and Dumber (1994), Kingpin (1996),  There’s Something About Mary (1998), and Me, Myself & Irene (2000), not to mention producing the extremely underrated Outside Providence (1999). So to say I was pumped about Dumb and Dumber To is an understatement. I was full throttle excited, I re-watched the original for about the l000th time and made sure I was at the theater about two hours early. From the opening scene, I was hooked. Seeing my boys Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) and Harry Dunn (Jeff Daniels) on the big screen again after 20 years was a feeling of pure joy. Then, about 5-10 minutes in, I realized what was about to happen: 105 minutes of tired jokes, worn down gimmicks, and reused plot lines. Now, does that make it a bad movie? Hell no! At least not to anyone who still quotes and watches the original anytime they accidentally pass it channel surfing, and to this day still watches all the Farrelly brothers movies in hopes they will one day recapture the glory of the ’90s. Dumb and Dumber To may not be their second coming, but it is the closest thing we have had for 14 years.

The jokes may be recycled, but I din’t care, it was great to see Jim Carrey back at it in the type of animated comedy that made him famous. Yes, he has aged but he can still deliver. He still has the best facial flexibility in the business and he shows it over and over in this film. Jeff Daniels, unlike Jim Carrey, appears unaged from the original. His actions, voice, and mannerisms are spot on to the orginal. Out of all the actors that were in the running for Harry in the 90’s original, I can’t picture anyone other than Daniels that could pull off that role.

The film takes place about 20 years after the events of the original film. Getting caught up on the interim 20 years happens in a flash! In typical dumber fashion, there’s a pretty simple (and dumb) solution as to why. After finally reuniting after all this time, Harry (Jeff Daniels) realizes he has a kid and that kid may be carrying the key to his survival. So, as you may have guessed it, Harry (Daniels) and Lloyd (Carrey) hit the road in search for Harry’s daughter.

This is were I would usualy write about two paragraphs on their journey/plot points, but any fan of the original film knows exactly what happens next.

The supporting cast is about as good as they can be for a Dumb and Dumber film and it was great to finally meet Fraida Felcher played by Kathleen Turner. She was the girl that could have ripped our two buddies’ friendship apart in the original film. Props to Kathleen Turner, who had to take some hilarious shots for not looking the way the boys remember her. Next, enter Harry and Fraida’s assumed daughter, played by the lovely Rachel Melvin, who does her best to channel our titular characters. The always solid Rob Riggle as the heartless twins Travis/Captain Lippincott (better understood when you see the movie) who really just serves as Harry and Lloyd’s primary antagonist.

In the end, the best part of this film was not the plot, not the action, not the dialogue, but the re-teaming of Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. They seemed to have a lot of fun with this film and it definitely showed. When the original Dumb and Dumber came out in 1994, I remember hearing the same things – terrible plot, bad toilet humor, unappealing characters… Fast forward 20 years, and it turned out to be a true comedy legend. Unfortunately, Dumb and Dumber To will never achieve that status, but it is certainly deserving of a watch. Especially if you hold the original in your heart.

3 out of 5