Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd

from Film Forum, 06/19/03

J. Robert Parks (The Phantom Tollbooth) offers a summer movie preview this week, noting in dismay that, having already seen Matrix Reloaded and X2, we have another 11 sequels this year. "And that doesn't even include Dumb and Dumberer," he says, "which is technically a prequel of the Jim Carrey/Jeff Daniels laugher of several years ago."

The success of Dumb and Dumber can be easily explained—Jim Carrey can make even the lamest comedy funny by his trademark over-the-top antics. But Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd does not star Carrey or Daniels. I'll bet that the studio, unable to lure the actors back for such puerile nonsense, changed the story so it could cast two younger, more persuadable actors to mimic the stars associated with Harry and Lloyd. The plot takes us to 1986, when the two teenagers attempt to break out of their "special needs" education program and enter the regular high school fray. I could make a remark about the "special needs" of moviegoers who spend money and time on this film, but that might be insensitive.

David DiCerto (Catholic News Service) says, "The only thing this clunker succeeds at is making the original stinker look almost Shakespearean by comparison. The film relies on crude humor to conceal its overall lack of anything resembling comic wit, resorting to gross sight gags to elicit cheap, forced laughs."

Steven Isaac (Focus on the Family) says, "Sheer embarrassment over the thought of actually buying a ticket and walking into such a lamebrain movie should successfully keep most families shopping instead of watching. If that's not enough, foul language, sexual crudeness, rude insensitivity to mental challenges and a lesbian kiss should more than seal the deal."

Don Patton (Movieguide) says, "There's not much humor in this poorly done numbskull comedy. You can guess the plot in the first several minutes of the movie." He also warns viewers about the language, innuendo, crass humor, "and a politically correct message about homeschooling."