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Dumb and Dumber
Unrated: More Dumber Than Evur!
Release Date: Available now (original release date December 9, 2008)
Studio: New Line Cinema
Packaging/Materials: Single-disc Blu-Ray case
Year: 1994
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1h52m
MSRP: $28.99
| MAIN FEATURE | SPECIAL FEATURES | |
| Video | 1080p high definition 16x9 1.85:1 | May be in standard definition |
| Audio | Dolby TrueHD: English 5.1; Dolby Digital: English 5.1, German 5.1 | Audio standards my vary |
| Subtitles | English and German | German (on select bonus material) |
The Feature: 3/5
Everything is dumb about Harry and Lloyd (Jeff Daniels and Jim Carrey), especially their luck. It's allowed Lloyd to meet the beautiful Mary Swanson (Lauren Holly), though when he mistakenly acquires the briefcase full of ransom money meant to save her husband, dumb luck will ultimately help Harry and Lloyd survive the thugs sent to hunt them down. That is, if Harry and Lloyd aren't done in by their own sheer stupidity.
Directed by the Farrelly Brothers, "Dumb and Dumber" is nothing if not truth in advertising. While the title certainly describes its main characters, it also applies to the film's narrative track. Just when you think things can't get any more ridiculous, they do. It makes for some genuine hilarity at times, but ultimately there's a bit more miss than hit (though the film certainly did well enough to move Carrey along towards greater comedic stardom). What ultimately surprises is Daniels, who wasn't known for comedy at the time, but who certainly rose (or sank) to the occasion, more than holding his own alongside the comedic whirlwind that is Carrey. While "Dumb and Dumber" is not a great film, it fulfills its mission, even though it means some pretty lowbrow antics.
"Dumb and Dumber" on Blu-Ray features the unrated cut of the film, which includes six minutes of material not shown in theaters.
Video Quality: 3/5
Though labeled as 1.85:1 the generally blemish-free image fills the entirety of my 16x9 display. The picture's black levels are stable and inky, though there are moments of black crush obscuring shadow detail. Flesh tones appear accurate overall, though colors in general seem a tad muted and drab. Close ups have more apparent detail than wide shots, suggesting there's some filtering or noise reduction in play, and some scenes have some noticeable halos along high contrast edges. Fine object detail is consequently lacking and some shots can look relatively soft, making for average video quality all around.
Audio Quality: 3/5
The Dolby TrueHD audio track is primarily front-focused with nominal activity in the surrounds for some atmospheric effects and light music cues. Things sound a touch edgy in the upper frequencies and the front soundstage is pretty rigidly configured, but dialogue is consistently clear and intelligible. LFE is non-existent.
Special Features: 2.5/5
The Blu-Ray release includes all the extras from the 2006 DVD edition.
"Still Dumb After All These Years" (18m35s): Recollections from cast and crew on the casting and production, though Carrey is noticeably absent along with the directors.
Trailers: Three theatrical previews and one TV spot totaling almost seven minutes. The two "Dumb" and "Dumber" trailers are interesting examples of how a little editing and narration can change the story.
Additional Scenes (33m55s): Twelve scenes, most of which were deleted for good reason. Some include interviews of the actors reflecting on the filming.
Extras (7m45s): Actors look back on the filming of four popular scenes, including Daniels's moment on the toilet, Carrey's kung fu fight, the gas station fire stunt, and the creation of the most annoying sound in the world. Again Carrey is a no-show in the interviews.
Recap
The Feature: 3/5
Video Quality: 3/5
Audio Quality: 3/5
Special Features: 2.5/5
Overall Score (not an average): 3/5
A nonsensical comedy with a perfectly descriptive title gets average treatment across the board.
