The Farrelly brothers reflect on ‘Dumb and Dumber’ turning 30: “It’s been the gift that keeps on giving”
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(Credits: New Line Cinema)
In an exclusive interview with Far Out, the Farrelly brothers have reflected on how they feel about Dumb and Dumber 30 years after the movie’s release.
Dumb and Dumber is coming up to its 30th year anniversary. The screenplay was written by both Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly, along with Bennett Yellin; Peter was also responsible for directing the movie. It was initially released on December 16th, 1994, and grossed a total of $247 million at the box office. Since then, the film has become a cult classic, which remains iconic in fans’ minds but continues to reach new audiences as the humour embedded within the film appeals to people of all ages.
“It makes me happy,” said Peter when asked about how they feel about the movie continuing to be renowned as a classic, “It’s definitely a surprise that it’s still going.”
“I have young kids coming up to me all the time who are just watching Dumb and Dumber for the first time. It was silly enough and funny enough that they still relate to it,” Bobby continued, “And it really didn’t outgrow its welcome. It’s been the gift that keeps on giving for us, and people come and quote lines and all that. It’s just been a joy for us.”
Despite the film’s current legendary status, there was a period when the Farrelly brothers were ready to give up on the script after taking it to every studio in Hollywood and getting shot down by all of them. However, their belief in the movie’s comedic value fuelled their persistence, and eventually, it fell into the right hands.
“We wrote it with Bennett Yellin, the two of us, and it was a long time coming,” he said, “It took us five years to get that movie made, be we had the exact same script, pretty much what we shot, and it got shot down at every studio.” Peter said, “There’s a point where you’re, like, ‘God, maybe we are insane’. This seems so funny to us, and yet the whole town is saying no. And thank the lord for Jim Carrey because Jim Carrey was the one who got the movie made.”
Upon reading the script, Jim Carrey saw potential in the movie. He was keen on making the picture, and given he was climbing the ladder in Hollywood and had become recognised as a big name in the comedy industry, studios started to listen.
“Jim Carrey was hot, and he read that script and said, ‘This is hysterical. Let’s make it’. And then, of course, we begged the studio to get Jeff Daniels because Jeff Daniels is a genius,” said Peter, “We always wanted him in there. But this movie does not get made without Jim Carrey. And then we’re not sitting here right now, we’re probably back in Rhode Island.”
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