Dumb and Dumber

  • Review Date: March 13, 2005
  • PG-13
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 1994
 Review

Common Sense Media says

The caviar of low-brow, gross-out comedy.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids 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.

  • 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).
  • Some shooting and slapstick violence. In an elaborate fantasy sequence, Lloyd tears a chef's heart out and deposits it in a doggy bag.
  • A few partially-exposed rears.

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?

 

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.


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What families can talk about

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


This review was written by Scott G. Mignola
Parent of 12 year old
April 9, 2008
 
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!

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Parent of 12 year old
March 11, 2011
 
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.)

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Kid, 12 years old
April 2, 2010
 
One of the Worst Movies of all time!
I hated it! One of the worst movies of all time!

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Kid, 11 years old
September 1, 2011
 
A couple of laughs.
It was funny but kind of inappropiate. *Unrated version for 14 and up*

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Kid, 13 years old
May 18, 2011
 
Jokes
soooooo funny. really good if your n the mood for a laugh

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Adult
April 7, 2011
 
love it! love jim carry hes hilarious!!! this movie is a classic and is one of the best movies i have ever seen

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Parent of 13 year old
October 20, 2010
 
safe movie

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Kid, 12 years old
June 13, 2011
 
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

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Teen, 14 years old
November 9, 2010
 
so frickin good

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Parent of 12 year old
May 16, 2011
 
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!

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This review was written by Scott G. Mignola
Studio:New Line
Directors:Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
Cast:Jeff Daniels, Jim Carrey, Lauren Holly
Genre:Comedy
Run time:106 minutes
Theatrical release date:January 1, 1994
DVD release date:September 2, 2003
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:gross-out humor and sexual themes.

This review was written by Scott G. Mignola
 

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ON: Content is age-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.
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