Dumb and Dumber (PG-13, 1994)

common sense media says

The caviar of low-brow, gross-out comedy.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie is unapologetically crass. The Farrelly Brothers deliver nonstop, gut-churning laughs for adults as well as kids; however, parents of preteens should be advised of slapstick violence and moderate sexual content. It's your call, parents, as to whether you want your preteens seeing this. The PG-13 rating -- for comedic violence, explosive bowels, and sexual situations -- is a sound recommendation for your supervision. Teenagers will laugh themselves sore. Adults who believe they're above this sort of thing may find themselves pleasantly mistaken.

Positive messages: A practical joke results in death. Lloyd is in danger of being raped by a man in a toilet stall. Off-camera, a bad guy twists a parakeet's head off (the damage is later repaired with tape).
Violence: Some shooting and slapstick violence. In an elaborate fantasy sequence, Lloyd tears a chef's heart out and deposits it in a doggy bag.
Sex: A few partially-exposed rears.
Language: Moderate cursing throughout.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Dumb and Dumber

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about why the main characters' antics are funny on film but inappropriate in real life.

What's the story?

What's the story?
Imbecile roommates Lloyd (Jim Carrey) and Harry (Jeff Daniels) give up their low-profile jobs and their dreams of opening a worm store to track down a lovely acquaintance of Lloyd's named Mary (Lauren Holly) and return to her the briefcase she left at the airport. Little do they know that Mary ditched the case on purpose, that it's full of ransom money, and that the pair of thugs sent to retrieve it are hot on their tail. Bumbling along in a van revamped to look like a sheepdog, Lloyd and Harry avoid being murdered several times over by sheer dumb luck. They arrive in Aspen, find Mary, and become entangled in a clumsy kidnapping plot, but the true test of their friendship comes when the two friends enter into a competition for the same girl's affection.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Brothers Peter and Bobby Farrelly elevate bodily fluid humor to as high a level as low art can climb. They know what's funny, and they throw it on the screen regardless of how vulgar or political incorrect it is. There's a gleefulness in that for adults -- it's like being back on the elementary school playground, laughing at somebody making rude noises with a hand cupped to his armpit. Few teens will have trouble surrendering to its raw charm.

 

Jeff Daniels, from whom we don't expect this kind of behavior, is impressively moronic in one of the two title roles. Jim Carrey is restrained just enough to keep us wanting more, and shows glimpses of the acting ability that would win him critical praise for The Truman Show. The movie only really fails when it abandons its stars in pursuit of a lame kidnapper/hitman subplot. If it loses gas altogether at the end, that should be expected of something propelled by so much gas early on.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: New Line
Director: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
Cast: Jeff Daniels, Jim Carrey, Lauren Holly
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 106 minutes
Theatrical release: January 1, 1994
DVD release: September 2, 2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: gross-out humor and sexual themes.

This review was written by Scott G. Mignola
 
 

Review It

 

Review Dumb and Dumber





Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

What parents & educators say

11

Most useful reviews by all members

erich
parent of 12 year old
 
I was aghast
I should never have allowed my 8 year old to see this! It actually shows a hostile man sexually threatening Jim Carey in a bathroom stall (and exposing himself). Talk about not doing your homework before coming home with a movie! Very crass references to women, female body parts, and sex. Do not let any kid under 15 watch this!

Xela9
kid, 12 years old
 
One of the Worst Movies of all time!
I hated it! One of the worst movies of all time!

littleone522
parent of 12 year old
 
PG 14 or older
I think this movie is really funny for adults or older kids but I wouldn't let anyone under the age of 14 to view it. Some concerns I had with this movie for a child to watch included: a character talking to himself says "suck me sideways" other language that is not appropriate includes A**hole said twice, A** (meaning butt) said twice, Sh*t said three times, B*tch said twice, and P*ssy is used three times, other more milder language incluse the use of H*ll more then three times. There is also a reference to a womens breast being called "fun bags" A man also lifts up a women who is wearing a dress and reveals her naked rear end. A women also takes her shirt off and a cars headlights show in place of where her breasts should be. There is also talk of a french tickler. In one scene a man is trying to buy a adult magazine and Rhode Island Sl*t is clearly seen on the newspaper rack. This movie isnt very violent but there is one part where a man imagines ripping another mans heart out of his chest, he also imagines shoting someone and this is a comical fight scene. Men are seen drinking beer in this movie and there are a few noticeable product placement: one by USA Today on newstand and the other for Coors Light (seen when man is caring a Coors Light box full of stuff including a toy pinwheel.)

az123654
kid, 11 years old
 
A couple of laughs.
It was funny but kind of inappropiate. *Unrated version for 14 and up*

siskell
parent of 13 year old
 
safe movie

Nunya Beezwax
kid, 11 years old
 
Funny but inapropriate
I thought it was funny. Though very innapropriate. I may be only 11 but I actually watch a ton of things most parents would say no too. So yeah, innapropriate. A butt is shown, breasts are almost exposed and sex talk. Violence: In one part there is a lot of fighting which include hitting and biting a man's "soft spot" and kung fu and then a man rips out another mans heart. But still pretty funny stuff

BestPicture1996
teen, 16 years old
 
HYSTERICAL!
I don't know if this movie would be as good without Carrey and Daniels in the starring roles, I guess the prequel answered that question, but I'm glad it did. Alot of the humor was tasteless, but that's what made it! It's a simple journey about 2 stupid but well-meaning guys who just want to open up a bait-shop!

Smileyfacegirl123
kid, 12 years old
 
Jokes
soooooo funny. really good if your n the mood for a laugh

dramaqueen@hot ...
parent of 11 year old
 
Well i just love this movie its not really bad i would let my child watch it if i had a child sure there are a few parts kinda bad like in Lyod's dream sequnce when he sees Mary picks her up and checks to see if she has any panties on which she doesn't but hey its just a silly movie and the saying Jim carry sayssuck me sideways lol whatever that means but this is an awesome movie i remember a long time ago my mom older sister and i seen it i was 9 years old when it came out so i pretty much rememberd it i laugh at the dvd whenever im in the mood to go on and watch it this is the funniest movie ever i seen it so many times i could watch it again and again and never even get tired of it that basically shows just how great this movie is like i said if i had a chid yes i would let him or her watch the movie i wouldn't be like those super strict folks because my child has a right to watch the movie whether he or she is 5 or 7 any age my kid can totally watch it btw i love Dumb And Dumber and yes i do have the Dvd! great movie love it!

 
love it! love jim carry hes hilarious!!! this movie is a classic and is one of the best movies i have ever seen

Fangbite91
kid, 11 years old
 
Some iffy behavior but its The Best!!!
I watched it and it was very funny! But very inappropriate. Language is "a**" "a**hole" "s--t" "bulls--t" "f--k" "shut up" "crap" and "d**n". Plenty of smoking and beer drinking. One character gets drunk, People shoot each other with guns. One guy rips a bird's head off but no blood. A couple shots of peoples butts. some kissing, bad jokes. This is not a little kids movie which is why it is iffy. Messages are bad but Its the best!!

CupcakeSweetie7534
kid, 13 years old
 
Over-Rated
I think this movie is really over rated. Old jokes, dumb story, and very boring. I wouldn't watch it with anyone under 6 years of age either.

Spielberg00
teen, 14 years old
 
Jim Carrey at his very, very funniest.
My rating: PG-13 for brief language and comic/crude sexual humor.

selenagomez11322
kid, 13 years old
 
THE MOST FUNNIEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME!!!! Except a sexual scene of Lloyd kissing Mary sexualy like PG 14+ and at the end you might think that Harry died but he didn't and a scene when Lloyd ripped a man's heart out!

TaterTot123
kid, 11 years old
 
Um...
There is a few mushy scenes, it's very nasty, and there is some cussing and death. A lady takes off her dress, but on her chest are 2 flashing blinkers. But it's funny. And Jim Carrey.

uhya
teen, 13 years old
 
so frickin good

davyborn
teen, 17 years old
 
Extremely crude and low-brow, but just how the fans like it
Undoubtedly one of Jim Carrey's most notorious, successful and popular comedies ever (only his third big success in movies) made its money and earned fans by being incredibly bizarre and low-brow in it's brand of humor, but that's okay because the fans of Carrey came and they laughed, just like I and everybody else who watches it now today, does. It's just a hilarious movie,period. But, it does get quiet crude and contains some sexual humor and brief nudity which makes it inappropriate for tween's, but make no mistake, this is a very funny movie.

PYEsinc
teen, 14 years old
 
Very dumb but hilarious
The language is moderate, but definitely PG-13 level: the worst it gets is "s--t" and "p---y", used about five or six times each. There are also a few uses of innuendo and double entendres such as when Harry is at a ceremony with owls; he says to a woman, "nice hooters you got there", claiming he is referring to her owls. This is some of Jim carrey's best comedy.

movieman4
kid, 12 years old
 
Violence (PG-13):Gunfights. Sexual Content (PG-13): French kissing, and refrences to sex. Language (PG-13): S--t is used alot, curses are refered to most out of anything. Consumerism (G): Coors Light Beer is shown. Drugs/Tobacco/Alchohol (PG-13): Harry and Lloyd love to drink, refrences to a women as a raging alcholic, Lloyd gets drunk at a bar. Social Behavior (R): You do not want your kids acting like Harry or Lloyd, their characters are used purely for entertainment and humor, and references to them can result fataly. Crude Humor (R): Harry has a World Record for biggest diarhea, many fart jokes, and other gross innuendo.

mcguire217
kid, 10 years old
 
15+
ok there is some bad parts.

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
 

vote now

Will you see Dumb and Dumber?


Already seen it? What do you think?

 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors


About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age