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Jay Duplass recommended Dumb and Dumber (1994) in Movies (curated)

 
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
1994 | Comedy

"I know, I know… indie cred is now out the window. But what can I say? Mark and I saw this film at Christmas 1994 in a movie theater, and I laughed so hard I sweat out 5 lbs of water weight and got rock hard abs in the process. We took a camping road trip to the mountains and almost froze to death because of it. I’ve seen it probably 20-plus times and it just makes me so happy every time."

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Daddy's Home 2 (2017)
Daddy's Home 2 (2017)
2017 | Comedy
Starts off great but soon veers off into not so great territory.
This year hasn't been good for the comedy movie genre. Will Ferrell in particular managed to star in one of the worst 'comedy' movies I've seen in a long time with 'The House' and even the anticipated sequel to one of the better comedies in recent years, Bad Moms, turned out to be a complete dud. So when a similar, Christmas themed sequel to what was essentially one of the more average movies in recent years came along, my hopes weren't exactly high. The original Daddys Home coasted along on the likeable pairing of Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg but did feature a handful of funny elements, obviously enough to greenlight a sequel.

As mentioned previously, Daddys Home 2 is set at Christmas time. Brad and Dusty (Ferrell and Wahlberg) have worked out their differences from the first movie and are getting along just fine as 'co-dads' to the kids. When their own dads (Mel Gibson and John Lithgow) pay a visit, they decide to have a 'together' family Christmas, and Kurt (Gibson) even manages to book a luxury cabin in the snow for them to enjoy it all in. It's a bit of a whirlwind setup, but for a while it all works surprisingly well. I found myself really laughing at some scenes, it was like watching a classic Christmas family disaster along the lines of National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.

But sadly, the momentum soon drops. Scene after scene fails to hit home, and some scenes even leave you wondering what the hell they were thinking by including them in the movie in the first place. Mel Gibsons character becomes increasingly annoying and it's all just a bit of a shame really. Things manage to get back on track towards the end of the movie but it's disappointing that it doesn't retain the high level of laughs and entertainment that kicked off the first third or so.
  
Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings
Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings
Liz Ireland | 2020 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder at the North Pole
April’s life changed completely when she learned Nick, the man she had fallen in love with, was Santa Claus. Now, she’s spending her first Christmas at the North Pole as Mrs. Claus. However, the stress of the holiday is nothing compared to the death of an elf. Giblet Hollyberry was not an especially popular elf, but his death comes the day after he had a very public fight with Santa. While the rest of the Claus clan doesn’t seem that concerned, April worries that the evidence is pointing toward her new husband. The North Pole isn’t normally a hotbed of crime, but it seems someone is doing their best to put Santa on the naughty list this year. Can April keep that from happening?

At its heart, this book is a cozy mystery, and it is a wonderful one. There are enough suspects, secrets, and clues to keep the reader engaged the entire way through the book. It’s the setting that makes the book stand out, and it is wonderfully done. It took me a bit to get the pictures from countless specials and movies out of my head, but April’s new world soon came fully to life for me. The characters, whether they are human or not, are very real, and I enjoyed meeting them here. And the book is overflowing with Christmas cheer – so much so that I had to start listening to some Christmas music while I was reading it. This book definitely deserves a place at the top of your nice list. I’m already looking forward to the sequel.
  
TC
The Christmas Wedding
6
6.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Gabby Summerhill is getting married. The question is, to whom? Will it be Marty, Tom, or Jacob? Each one has proposed to her, but she isn't revealing who the lucky groom will be until Christmas Day when her whole family is gathered together. Gabby hasn't spent a Christmas with her whole family since her first husband passed away. Once they are all gathered, Gabby will reveal the lucky man. Each one of Gabby's four kids has their own life and Gabby is always up to something quirky she even has her kids and grandkids call her by her first name.

I'm trying to get through all the James Patterson books I haven't read by listening to a few. I have long enjoyed his books and this one was alright.

Gabby is a high school teacher and a mother of 4. She is also a grandmother. Planning her wedding is quite an adventure and everyone seems to comply with the crazy idea of waiting until the wedding day which is also Christmas to reveal who sh is going to marry, even the groom doesn't know. It's fun to see how the story unfolds with nods to subjects like divorce, grief, and teenage angst.