Dumb and Dumber To
(Rated T)
Cast: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Kathleen Turner
Genre: Comedy
Dwight's Rating: 3.5
Beyond the Lights (Rated C)
Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker, Minnie Driver
Genre: Drama
Dwight's Rating: 3
Sometimes, the smartest human beings are not always the most fun.
Of course, everyone wants (or at least should want) to be as smart as they can possibly be. And nobody is suggesting that anyone should be dumbing themselves down, or settling for less-than-smart solely in pursuit of fun. But sometimes, though not all the time, it does seem that smart and fun are mutually exclusive.
So too can be the case with movies. A rollicking good time is often more likely to be had with films that don't challenge the brain, or with ones that make no sense at all.
That's the case with two recent releases in local theatres; "Dumb and Dumber To" and "Beyond the Lights" are certainly not Shakespeare. But they are unquestionably entertaining.
The former is a sequel to the 1994 hit "Dumb and Dumber", and reunites stars Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels.
With the sequel, dimwit Harry Dunne (Daniels) is in need of a new kidney. Having learned that he has a long-lost daughter, he snaps his equally obtuse friend Lloyd Christmas (Carrey) out of an apparent 20-year-long fugue state to accompany him on a journey to find his offspring. Their quest takes them criss-crossing the USA.
Okay, so "Dumb and Dumber To" is a very stupid movie. Very, very silly! Ridiculous! But it is quite entertaining with some laugh-out loud moments.
It can be argued that there should have been more of these moments, but like the misspelled word in its title (which, of course, you noticed), it celebrates its stupidity. To me, it feels ever-so-slightly less moronic than the original - the passage of 20-years making some aspects of the first film's plot exceptionally stale.
But the new version is essentially an anniversary homage to the original, allowing Carrey and Daniels to have some fun. And for the most part, the audience experiences the same.
But, no, there are probably no Oscars in the future for "Dumb and Dumber To". And except for a possible nod in the best original song category, the other new release last weekend will also not receive any Academy Award love. But again, that doesn't mean it's not an entertaining flick.
"Beyond the Lights" certainly is not ground-breaking and earth-shattering, and it feels familiar and predictable. It is, however, well-crafted and well-acted, and a showcase for a young talent who deserves to be a household name.
British actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw (who most recently starred in 2013's well-reviewed "Belle" - which never played here locally) is that talent. She plays Noni, who's been groomed for stardom all her life by her overbearing mother (Minnie Driver). Noni is having trouble dealing with her success. Feeling unable to cope any longer, she tries to kill herself but is saved by Kaz, the police officer assigned to be her bodyguard (Nate Parker). The two are instantly attracted to each other. But many forces converge to keep them apart.
We're supposed to feel sorry for the young starlet as she battles against the cruel music industry and her "do-as-you're-told" music label, the meanies in the media and social media, and her crazy mom. This story could easily be that of Rihanna or Beyonce or Britney Spears or any one of today's young pop stars, who've all lived their whole lives in front of cameras.
For the most part, the story closely follows what we've read or watched about these individuals. In that regard, it seems realistic and offers few surprises. One exception being an unusual and over-the-top scene involving the BET Awards. And while that particular show has an "anything-and-everything-can-happen" reputation, I'm not sure what occurs in the movie would ever happen in real life. What's even more surprising is that "BET Films" is listed in the movie's credits!
"Beyond the Lights" does bring to mind a number of previous flicks, including "The Bodyguard", or even the musical "Gypsy". But the combination of relatively unknown leads, and aspects of the storyline, like Noni's suicide attempt, mixed race, and the fact that she and her mum are Brits, somehow help it seem fresher.
The performances are certainly much better than in "The Bodyguard". Driver is reasonably good as the wacko mom, and Parker is acceptable as the hero cop. But watch the irrepressible Mbatha-Raw! She's captivating in every scene. The only disappointment is that she doesn't appear to be singing any of the songs. (Singer Rita Ora performs the original song "Grateful".) That would have made her the ultimate threat, and the next big thing. Nevertheless, she is still bound for greatness.
I would have preferred a different ending; I'm not sure if it's very realistic, and it does come across as a bit cheesy. But it in no way ruins the film.
Yes, the end-of-the-year usually comes with the promise of smarter, Oscar-bound movies. And these often are the best films of the year. But sometimes we are inundated with over-hyped, pompous and pretentious movies that can be a real drain. So it's nice to know that there are still options that don't collapse under the weight of their expectations, and are simply designed to entertain.
o Dwight Strachan is the host/producer of " Morning Blend" on Guardian Radio. He is a television producer and writer, and an avid TV history and film buff. Email dwight@nasguard.com and follow him on twitter @morningblend969
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