In the mid-90s, the comedy film Dumb and Dumber took the world by storm with its outrageous humour and unforgettable characters. Released in 1994 and directed by Peter Farrelly, the movie revolves around two friends, Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) and Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels), as they embark on a road trip from Providence, Rhode Island, to Aspen, Colorado, in order to return a briefcase full of money to its rightful owner. Despite their various setbacks and mishaps, Lloyd and Harry remain determined to fulfil their mission, convinced that returning the briefcase will yield a great reward. Along the way, they demonstrate an unshakable loyalty to each other and a sense of humour that keeps them going regardless of the obstacles.
While the film’s plot may have been silly and absurd, its setting was grounded in reality, with many scenes filmed in cities across the United States. From Providence, Rhode Island, to Park City, Utah, the film’s locations offer a glimpse into some of America’s most vibrant and diverse urban centers. Let’s look closer at the cities where the movie was filmed and explore the unique charms that made this Farrelly’s picture classic.
Rhode Island
The story starts at the airport, when Lloyd Christmas, driving a limousine, arrives to pick up Mary Swanson at the airport. Those scenes were filmed at T.F. Green Airport in Providence, Rhode Island. Although that’s where the movie starts, so the characters are going to part from Rhode Island, we have a little scene-setting to establish the characters’ home, with establishing shots, including the famous Big Blue Bug – the 58-feet-long mascot which has graced the roof of the Big Blue Bug Solutions pest control company since 1980.
Another memorable scene from Dumb and Dumber takes place at the Narragansett Bay Commission in Lincoln, Rhode Island. This location serves as the backdrop for the famous ‘toilet scene’ in which Lloyd attempts to deliver a briefcase to Mary in the bathroom. Lincoln is a quiet suburb of Providence, known for its natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. Providence is a charming city with a rich history and vibrant arts scene, where visitors can stroll along the picturesque Waterplace Park, explore the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, or sample some of the city’s famous Italian cuisine.
Colorado
Since they travel a lot in the movie, we must also discuss the highways. Most of the transcontinental journey, fast-food joints and truckstops, were filmed around Fort Morgan on the eastern plains of Colorado, where the ‘wrong-way scene’ happens when the pair get in an epic fight after Lloyd drives five hours in the wrong direction.
Then, both the characters and the viewers arrive at the climax of this road trip, which takes place in Aspen, Colorado. Here, Lloyd and Harry finally arrive to return the briefcase to Mary’s husband. Even though this is the name of the city in the movie, the arrival and the mini-bike scene were not filmed in Aspen. The first one was actually filmed on Main Street, Breckenridge, central Colorado, since it has a higher altitude and was more likely to be covered in snow in late spring, making it easier for the production of the film. This decision probably was likely to have been cheaper also, a win-win for the crew. Breckenridge also serves as the setting for the moment Harry and Lloyd trade their dog van for a moped.
The hotel where Lloyd and Harry stay, called ‘Danbury Hotel’, is actually the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, already a famous location in the history of cinema. This same hotel was the inspiration for the Overlook Hotel in Stephen King’s The Shining after he stayed there for some nights. Kubrick’s film wasn’t filmed there, but the TV series was. But returning to Dumb and Dumber, if you check the Avalanche Bar & Grill scene, where Lloyd waits in vain for Mary Swanson, it was shot in the Stanley Hotel’s bar.
Utah
Finally, we go into the last location of the movie: Utah, stage to a brief scene in which Lloyd and Harry are chased by the criminals after the briefcase. That was filmed in Park City, Utah. Also, the chalet and home of Nicholas Andre (Charles Rocket) are supposed to be in Aspen, which was shot in Deer Valley. This famous mountain is also located in Park City, the same mountain town home to the Sundance Film Festival.
There was also another scene, the Snowy Owl Benefit, that was filmed in the 1909 Union Pacific Railroad Depot in Salt Lake City, Utah. Now, the venue has become a live music one called The Depot. Lastly, the interior scenes – or most of them – were filmed in Intermountain Studios, the same one built by The Osmonds for The Donnie and Marie Osmond Show. Just a small case where it’s funny to explore the actual locations and compare them to where they are supposed to be in the movie, and how the magic that happens behind the cameras is phenomenal.
