Dumb and Dumber To

Carrey and Daniels' 20 Years 'To' Late

            20 years ago it was 1994. Pulp Fiction came out. Forrest Gump came out. Shawshank Redemption was still new. And Dumb and Dumber hit theaters. All great movies. Hands down. Three of the four were nominated for Oscars and even won a good amount of them. The fourth just sat and watched from home on Oscar night but still managed to become a classic of the 1990s.

            When someone chooses to name a movie "Dumb and Dumber" it's hard to expect much out of it. Some movies have a nice way of surprising audiences despite the title. Bobby and Peter Farrelly are two brothers that have made a great reputation in surprising audiences with their zany and quirky characters. Their filmography consists of a few classics and guilty pleasures (There's Something About Mary, Shallow Hal, Me, Myself, & Irene, Osmosis Jones...), some better than others, but still, entertaining until the credits roll.

            For some reason, they decided to knock "entertaining" off the list when making their latest film and seemed to focus solely on the box office numbers.

            Now, for the million dollar question....... Why mess with what was already perfect?

            When Dumb and Dumber To started its promotion spots a few months ago it was decided, for some reason, to put the entire focus of the movie's beginning in the trailer. Harry (Jeff Daniels) approaches a heavily dazed and bearded Lloyd (Jim Carrey) while he resides at a mental hospital. Turns out, for twenty years, Lloyd had been faking his illness and going through countless medical procedures and tests all to play a joke on his best buddy. Not the most ideal prank or really funny at all for that matter but sticks with the norms that the first movie displayed two decades ago. While the Farrelly brothers had a good time throwing in references and plot points from the first movie that everyone would love, they must have thought it was a fitting substitute for well thought out jokes. The end result is two film production icons out-doing themselves in all the wrong ways.

            Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels have been all over the spotlight again ever since September 2013 when @Jeff_Daniels tweeted a picture of them as Harry and Lloyd with the caption "We're Back!!! #DumbTo." That picture created monstrous waves among movie lovers and was the newest highly anticipated film for the next 12 months.

            You'll see this movie for two reasons: 1.) To answer the question, "The first was so good, will this sequel curse it?" And 2.) To see how to perfect Lloyd's bowl-cut. I'm choosing to focus on the first one. Jeff Daniels actually nails his performance. He seems to have held onto the persona of Harry Dunn (whatever that means) and aged no more than he should have. He's a father now and in search of his [gorgeous] ditzy 22 year old daughter, Penny (Rachel Melvin). He was never known as being completely animated as his costar but sure can hold his own onscreen. That's regrettably one of the only positives I can throw out there. Rob Riggle and Kathleen Turner head up the supporting cast but don't seem to fit in at all with awkward roles like this. Turner is a the mother of Harry's daughter and also part owner of a funeral home. Riggle plays a mooch after a family's fortune with a confusing identical twin in special ops. He has no character continuity at all as the film goes on and appears as a last-minute edit by the Farrelly duo.

Rachel Melvin and Jim Carrey 

            What else? Oh yeah, Jim Carrey. Jim Carrey is not a person. He's a cartoon, a whirling dervish of talent and insanity. He's an icon and a comedy legend that has revolutionized slapstick for generations to come. Another thing he is doing is showing his age. It's hard to say but being over-the-hill shows with films like this one. Carrey reprises his haircut and chipped tooth as Lloyd Christmas. While being known for his extravagant improvisations, it is difficult to believe he made up some of the poorly timed jokes and gags that go along with being in a movie this silly. He comes off as the jokester at a party that won't stop telling the same joke even though no one laughed at it the first time.

             Of course there will be no moral to this story, that's only common sense. The first movie was fun to watch because of how different it was and set high standards for future slapshows. The jokes are as childish as the characters (actually, not so much this time around. Adult humor is where it's at, apparently) as expected but just because there is "Dumb" in the title does not give the writers permission to make the movie as stupid or crude as humanly possible. There is quality to be had but that was thrown to the wayside over the course of two decades. Thank you, Harry and Lloyd, but next time, stick to what works. GRADE: 4.8/10 (A bit generous but I rated it based off the actual number of genuine laughs it provided).
           
         

Big Hero 6

Nerds Still Rule

            As expected, Walt Disney Studios continues its unbreakable streak of delivering the definition of quality entertainment! There really is a little bit of everything in Big Hero 6 but what sets this film apart from recent Disney works are the perfectly timed and gut-busting laughs. This is your chance to not be afraid to sport tears of laughter in a movie theater. This writer speaks from experience.

            I don't want to spend much time categorizing Big Hero 6 since it is based off of an original Japanese anime production but a good way to briefly explain it is to call it the "How to Train Your Dragon of the future." The way future, that is. How far ahead? I figured you'd ask. There is no specific date given but the city this takes place in is the fusion of Japanese culture as well as West Coast American life and is appropriately named "San Fransokyo." Yep, that far. 

            What this movie actually revolves around is science. Almost a celebration of it, one could say. It all begins with 14 year old Hiro (Ryan Potter, showing much potential from his Nickelodeon days). A child prodigy in robotics who has created a living by hustling at underground robot battles. Hiro lives with his older brother, Tadashi, in the upstairs of their aunt's cafe. Tadashi is a science wiz as well, studying advanced robotic work at a prestigious local college under a world renown inventor (James Cromwell). Along with his fellow nerds in "nerd school," Tadashi shows young Hiro around to get his interests hyped and away from bot fighting. These students all have their own individually insane projects that would give the minds at Apple a run for their money. What steals the show is Tadashi's project: Baymax, a personal robot with extensive medical knowledge compiled with a caring touch and friendly appearance. 

            Baymax is the giant marshmellow-like thing you've been seeing in the commercials. His comedic monotoned voice (Scott Adsit, 30 Rock) and his programmed unconditional love for everyone around him is what makes this movie so much fun. Note: the laughs are especially brought on when Baymax has trouble with his battery. 

            The voice-over efforts of TJ Miller (She's Out of My League), Maya Rudolph, Daniel Henney, Damon Wayans Jr., Genesis Rodriguez, and Alan Tudyk (Dodgeball) all mesh nicely while some mysteries of technology are being explored in a world that already has so many answers. There's so much action in there as well which alternates with the slapstick quite harmoniously. The emphasis on each emotion is not overwhelming at all but just enough to stay in tune and empathetic with each character's situation.

            Besides revolutionizing the way kids will be fist-bumping from now on (you'll understand after seeing it), this movie sends a great message for every age. Bring the family, you all will love it. The genius creativity that Disney put into the technology featured onscreen is one reason alone to see it. This is top notch work in family movies. Who knows, maybe one day a "laser slicer" will be found in every kitchen. GRADE: 8/10

            

            

            

Nightcrawler

The Obsession is Real

            The opening shots of Nightcrawler provide some really cool views of Los Angeles at the day's close. The stillness in one of America's busiest cities is anything but still. There isn't excitement like what occurs after the sun goes down, even in L.A.

            Journalism is an industry not for the weak. The facts are out there and some are easier to report than others. The media is an entity constantly under public fire for broadcasting what seems to be the "wrong" stories or for not being completely bias on certain issues. In any condition, each station has to be different from its competition even if that means tip-toeing past the lines of ethics and morality. I know, this sounds kind of far-fetched, who knows how often instances like this actually take place in real life. For Louis Bloom, morality is something he is willing to sacrifice to save whatever is left in his one-bedroom apartment.

            Louis is a thief by day as well as loner by day. By night, he makes his own choices. One night in particular, he chooses to learn the craft of being a nightcrawler. (One who freelances video clips for news stations to purchase). He has no job and not much to lose so, if the money is that good, why not? Camcorder, police scanner, and new partner in hand, Louis takes a whack at the nightcrawling industry and even has one news director eating out of the palm of his hand. Going from complete rookie, to amateur, to sadistic pro, it isn't until he comes across a story before the cops show up where the real code of ethics is at stake.

            When you are as good at what you do as Jake Gyllenhaal is, it is not difficult to have an audience immediately take you seriously--even if you've shed a few pounds and are creepy from the get go. He easily draws a crowd, just ask any girl nearby. It's really nice to see a character of his take the turn for the worse in the best way possible.

            The first word that comes to mind after watching Gyllenhaal take on Louis Bloom is "natural." His character is conniving in nature, charming to the blind eye, and as articulate as the night is long but he pulls it off with an extremely natural flow and 60's style shades all with his greasy hair tied back once it's time for work. He was near flawless as Robert Graysmith, the obsessive cartoonist in Fincher's Zodiac, and now he's folded up the newspaper and found a fitting place behind the camera while borrowing some of Ryan Gosling's Drive intensity. This role is a true transformation for him.

            Gyllenhaal's not the only antihero in Dan Gilroy's film. His personal assistant in crime is played by Riz Ahmed (The Reluctant Fundamentalist) who is homeless and pretty much agrees to signing a blank check with Bloom. The news director that falls for Bloom's newly found talent is Rene Russo (Outbreak). Louis is a fast learner (he lets her know this a lot) and figures out just how to get what he wants, even if it's not what she had in mind. Even a cut throat Bill Paxton is along for the ride and stands in the way as Bloom's biggest nightcrawling competitor with 14 years already under his belt.

             Dan Gilroy has a few writing credits to his name (The Bourne Legacy, Real Steel) but this is a pretty impressive debut into directing. Regardless of your opinions of the media, Nightcrawler may leave you angry and cringing at how the news is dealt with, but, if my word matters, it's a truly suspenseful movie that delivers a pretty good time, if that's what you're up for. GRADE: 8.3/10