Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are back on set for the long-delayed sequel to their 1994 comedy hit Dumb and Dumber, but there’s something decidedly smart about the behind-the-scenes snapshot Carrey shared on Twitter. That would be double self-promotion.
While it's exciting to see Harry and Lloyd —complete with bad hair and dopey expressions—back in action, Dumb and Dumber To is not the only project Carrey’s selling in this pic. Note the upside-down book How Roland Rolls? That’s not a prop for the movie, it's Carrey’s latest release. As he notes in the caption, this children’s book is now on sale. And from the synopsis, we’re thinking it’s way too deep for this Dumb and Dumber duo even if they were holding it the right way:
“HOW ROLAND ROLLS is a story about a wave named Roland who’s afraid that, one day, when he hits the beach, his life will be over. But when he gets deep, he’s struck by the notion that he’s not just a wave — he’s the whole big, wide ocean! The story shows humanity’s interconnectedness through the metaphor of a wave in the ocean.”
Looking over How Roland Rolls Amazon page, I was surprised to see some of the big and unexpected names Carrey got to review the book, from former Amnesty International director Jack Healey to actress/activist Jane Fonda, and noted doctor and holistic healer Deepak Chopra. Of course, as Carrey has shown this past year, we really shouldn’t assume we know what to expect from him. One minute he’s gleefully starring in the ultra-violent Kick-Ass 2, the next he’s denouncing its gun violence and refusing to promote the picture. In this light, promoting a philosophical children’s book while pushing a gross-out comedy for teens and adults makes a certain level of sense. Okay, I kid. This is actually a shrewd business move. I mean, hell, it got this movie site talking about a kid’s book that’s not being made into a movie. Well played, Carrey.
Want a look at the film with a little less self-promotion? Here's a similar image that Daniels posted on his own Twitter feed:
Returning to Dumb and Dumber To, Carrey and the recently Emmy-winning Daniels pick up twenty years after Harry and Lloyd’s crazy trip to Aspen. Bobby and Peter Farrelly are back to direct this second wild road trip tale that has the guys tracking down a long-lost child in hopes of finding a needed kidney donor. Cam Neely, who memorably played the bullying trucker Sea Bass in the first film, will be reprising that role, and Californication’s Kathleen Turner will bring some new heat to the cast playing Fraida Feltcher, an ex of both Harry and Lloyd. As to what else we can expect from Dumb and Dumber To, Daniels just promised that there will be something even more out there than the outrageous toilet scene from the first film, if you can imagine that.
With production underway, Dumb and Dumber To is expected to open in 2014, though Universal Pictures has not yet announced a release date.
