by Joe Thacker

Let me start off by saying that some film reviewers have stated that one year soon there will be almost no original movies produced by the major studios. Everything will be a sequel/prequel/remake or based on a book. I believe this is that year and this picture is no exception.

This continuation of the 1994 movie stays on the same timeline as reality.  Harold and Lloyd have been incommunicado for 20 years. Harold (Jeff Daniels) needs an organ transplant from a blood relative. He also happen not to have checked the mail until recent and discovered he has a daughter. (How that happened?) The only lead they have is a recent picture that upon Lloyd (Jim Carrie) falls hopelessly in lust. When the odds are against him and Harold gets discouraged, Lloyd “selflessly” cheers him to go onward.  Included in this cast of typical Riza Aziz productions is Bill Murray and Kathleen Turner.

Like the original, part of the plot involves the two buddies carrying a package across county and being pursued by someone out to kill them.One of the methods of transportation they use is a Zamboni. I did not know that this vehicle has a horn. Or that it needs one.  The screenwriting gods look favorably towards these knuckleheads with a string of circumstances that they get out of easily.

Most of the other characters, for whatever reason, don’t recognize the lack of intelligence these two have. In fact, several people assume that they are the smartest guys in the room. Either it’s beyond their belief that anyone can be that stupid and survive or they themselves are dumb. Still, it makes good comedy that’s hit or miss.  One of these characters is Penny (Rachel Melvin) The daughter in question. It become obvious that they can be related. My problem is that this perpetuates the myth that a glamorous woman can get by easily on her looks alone.

Here are a few examples of some of the situations these 2 get into:

One sequence has our heroes obtaining hearing aids at a nursing home because Harold lost his aural faculty. From lighting fireworks. In a limo. This all sounds random, but it really moves the plot along.

One of the best sequences is when they arrive in El Paso and get sucked into a TED like event. People there must think that the only types that can also attend must be as intellectual as themselves, if not more so.

All of the gags are new, but the types of jokes are same as the first movie. Mostly crude humor, but you expect that from the Farrelly brothers. One thing that may be considered different is there is a lot of deception; nothing is as it appears. Except you’ll see the two most idiotic guys on screen.

If you like these kinds of movies that offers absolutely no intellectual stimulus,  Then by all means, be dumb and enjoy.