THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 23, 1994 TAG: 9412220080
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER BENTON, TEENOLOGY MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
THE TITLE should give it away. ``Dumb and Dumber'' just doesn't sound like an intellectual movie. . . nor is it meant to be.
Jim Carrey - the former ``In Living Color'' funny man who rose to fame with ``Ace Ventura: Pet Detective'' - is the main attraction of this film. Half the people who spend their money to see it will do so solely for Carrey, regardless of what the film is about.
Carrey again displays his unique comedic talent and fantastic facial contortions in this role as the ``smarter'' half of this movie's intellectually challenged duo. The same body-twisting humor that audiences loved in his two previous films is again displayed here. Same act, same character - different costumes and sets.
Carrey's partner in stupidity is his roommate and travel companion played by the frizzy-mopped Jeff Daniels. He drives a van covered in fur to resemble a sheep dog, and dreams of opening a pet store called ``I've Got Worms.''
The dumbstruck duo takes off for Aspen, Colo., - via the sheep dog - in search of Carrey's on-and-off-screen love interest, Lauren Holly. On the way, they unwittingly encounter your typical movie ``bad guys'' who are after wealth and fortune.
If bathroom, nasal, and the other types of elementary-school humor appeal to you, then you'll find ``Dumb and Dumber'' hilarious. If not, you will definitely be offended.
While Carrey is his usual zany self, ``Dumb'' is not up to ``Ace Ventura'' or ``The Mask's'' standards. The plot is shoddy. It is only sketched out on screen, and the ``bad guys' '' motivation is never really clear.
Also, some of the acting seems forced (excluding Carrey and Daniels) and at one point, Karen Duffy (who plays an ``evil one''), looks as if she is actually waiting for the director to give her the cue before she says her line.
``Dumb'' has lots of laughs, but after a while, they get tiring, and this movie takes a dive. Carrey's grin becomes annoying, and you just want to reach through the movie screen and smack him and Daniels.
Carrey could have made this film into another ``Ace Ventura'' had he been given more to work with. However, if you're in the mood for a good laugh, and care nothing about plot content, then ``Dumb and Dumber'' will do. MEMO: ``Dumb and Dumber'' is rated PG-13. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
NEW LINE CINEMA
Jim Carrey, left, and Jeff Daniels star in the brainless comedy
``Dumb and Dumber.''
Jennifer Benton is a senior at Lakeland High.
by CNB