Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd

6/14/03 - Review

Before Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels trekked across country as Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne to deliver a suitcase full of cash, they were in High School.  Actually they were in a Special Needs class set up by Principle Collins (Eugene Levy) so that he and his girlfriend, the lunch lady, can swindle the school out of a $100,000 grant.  The only problem is that he has to show that he has special needs kids.  Enter Lloyd and Harry. 

Lloyd (Eric Christen Olsen) is your typical kid that gets picked on by everybody.  Harry (Derek Richardson) is a kid that has been home schooled by his mom but is finally heading to public school.  Upon meeting, Lloyd takes him upon his wing.  As you can expect they become best of friends as their “dumbness” flows freely between the two. 

After getting selected for this special needs class, they are asked to choose more kids to join.  It all seems too fishy though to high school reporter chick Jessica (Rachel Nichols), who is seeking the best story.  With Lloyd and Harry’s help, she tries to expose the scam.  The investigation turns up nothing at first but never close the case when Harry and Lloyd are around. 

 Like the title suggests, this movie is dumb, literally.  At no point in the movie is it actually good and worth watching.  Like many have said, Hollywood should have left Dumb and Dumber alone.  This movie is nothing compared to the original.  At least it isn't as bad as Stealing Harvard. 

Despite the few funny scenes, aka brain freeze, the movie was a complete bore fest.  I am surprised that Eugene Levy would subject himself to trash like this.  The same is true for Mimi Rogers, even though it was a small part.  With her silver spoonish like clout, you would think that she could get something better. 

The actors that played Lloyd and Harry did a decent job of acting like Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels.  Hell, they even looked like them.  But, the story that they were a part of could not take advantage of those qualities.  Instead we get another movie that falls flat on its face.  I’d like to meet the person that green lights these movies. 

If you are looking for this movie to be as good as the original, stop, it isn’t.  Stay away from this movie so it tanks at the box office which will cause them to re-think the next prequel/sequel.  Save your money and rent the original.  I would write some more, but then I would be the dumb one. 

Grade

What do you think?