Money For Old Rope

Imagine you're the head of a successful Hollywood studio; you negotiate multimillion dollar movie deals over breakfast and have been responsible for a list of blockbusters as long as your arm. Now imagine someone coming up to you with a pitch to revive an eight-year-old film property, stage a follow-up with almost no money, involve none of the original cast and employ a budget alternative to the winning writer/directors who made the first film such a success. While any sane man would reach for the button marked 'security', the number of straight-to-video sequels cropping up nowadays would indicate that this is quite a common conversation to take place. The latest dead dog deemed to be in need of a damned good flogging is 1994 comedy Dumb and Dumber. The film that paired Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels to hilarious effect is to be revived without its now high-priced stars and with nary a hint of the Farrelly brothers to be found. Instead, TV director Troy Miller has been dragged aboard to spin out this tale of halfwits Harry and Lloyd in a prequel set during the dullard duo's high school years. We wouldn't advise holding your breath for a theatrical release, if you happen to be one of the four people who would actually pay legal tender to experience such a half-arsed cash-in then best keep an eye on the bottom shelf of your local video store.