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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY HILARY GANSAN
PAGE 5
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arts & features
HOROSCOPES
Because the stars
know things we don't.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Today is a 9
Compromise is required today and tomorrow. Negotiate fairly and emerge unscathed. A female offers an opportunity. A new associate could become a valuable partner. Act from your core beliefs, rather than whims.
Dress up your workspace.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Today is an 8
A new project demands more attention for the next few days. Get final words of advice. Time to get busy! Abandon procrastination and let your passion play. Provide excellent work, and practice your talents.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Today is a 7
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Today is a 7
Someone nearby sure looks good. A barrier is dissolving, or becoming unimportant. True love is possible, with hot romance infusing the situation. Practice your arts and charms. Weave a spell with candies and fragrance
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Today is an B
Make household improvements today and tomorrow. You can find what you need nearby. Make popcorn and share it with a movie or game. Fill your home with family love.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Today is a 9
A new educational phase begins over the next few days. A female offer a balanced plan. Things fall into place. Get into intense learning mode. Resist the temptation to splurge. Write and share your discoveries.
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Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 9
Today is a 9
For the next few days, joyfully
bring in money. Count your
blessings. Keep books as you
go. A female offers a financial
opportunity. Creativity percolates,
and demand for your work
increases. Grow your kitty fatter.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Today is an 8
Your charm captivates. Learning new skills leads to new friends.
Have the gang over to your house. You're even more powerful than usual today and tomorrow. Your thoroughness makes an excellent impression.
Get more with honey than vinegar.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Today is an 8
Friends are there for you. You're under pressure to complete old tasks the next few days. Schedule quiet private time to think things over. Rest and recharge.
Exercise and eat well.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Today is an 8
Circumstances control your actions for the next two days.
Find a beautiful spot. Your team inspires. Hold meetings, brainstorm, and chart your collaboration. Add an artistic touch to the project.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Today is a 9
Compete for more responsibilities over the next few days. Do it for love, not money. Friends are there for you. You're attracting the attention of someone important. Listen closely.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Today is an 8
Make time for an outing over the next few days. Travel suits you just fine. You're learning quickly.
Set long-range goals. Studies and research inspire fascinating conversation. Talk about your passion, and ask others what they love
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Today is a 9
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Today is a 9
Discuss shared finances. The next two days are good for financial planning. Provide support for your partner. Follow through on what you said you'd do. Don't let a windfall slip through your fingers. Plan a trip together.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels star in the movie "Dumb and Dumber To." The sequel comes 20 years after the original "Dumb and Dumber."
Humor of 'Dumb and Dumber To' lacks wit
The Farrelly brothers made a comedy cult classic with their first film, "Dumb and Dumber," but have failed to reach those enduringly hilarious heights again. Following several other solid comedies in the '90s, their work took a drastic dip in the new millennium and hasn't since risen above decent, at best. Now, 20 years after they began, they've returned to their idiotic origins with "Dumb and Dumber To," which lives up to its title but not its legacy.
Stupidity is the name of the game here, and because Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are
so devoted to their bumbling buffoon characters, this sequel does offer some moderate laughs. Carrey's physical comedy talents, when not obnoxious, can still put a silly, giant grin on viewers' faces, recalling the extreme expressiveness of silent film stars with all the subtlety of a screeching 6-year-old. Daniels plays dumb with a more straightforward oafishness, like a slower-witted and more easily pleased cousin of the Three Stooges.
Opening with Lloyd (Carrey) revealing his 20-year coma as a prank on his best friend Harry (Daniels), the two reunite and discover Harry fathered a daughter 22 years before. The duo of dunes set out to find her, Harry wanting to be a parent to her and Lloyd wanting to marry the beautiful girl (Rachel Melvin) — unbeknownst to Harry. The girl's scientific genius adoptive father (Steve Tom) tasks them with bringing her a valuable package at a science conference, while his wife (Laurie Holden) and her lover (Rob Riggle) scheme to get rid of Harry and Lloyd and take the package for themselves.
VISIT KANSAN.COM FOR THE DUMBEST QUOTES FROM DUMB AND DUMBER TO
Oblivious behavior leads the laughs — the idiots not knowing common phrases, how to act in situations, what certain things are and what's going on around them. There's a line of ridiculousness that, when these gags stay under
it, the jokes frequently hit. But often they go overboard, either in the writing or performance, and the gags lose their comedic value as they go from dumb and funny to just simply dumb.
Sudden childlike behavior, such as when the adoptive father turns away from talking to Harry and Lloyd and when he turns back, they're under an upside-down couch they've made a fort out of, works to great effect. Or when they scoot across an entire row of sitting audience members, loudly making their presence known and openly criticizing the TED talk-like speaker and everyone around them.
Other gags, including most of the lowly body and gross-out humor (besides a surprisingly funny "he who smelt it dealt it" game in the car) feel like lazy, immature attempts
at humor. And while a number of pop culture references are good for a chuckle, some of them feel like jabbing reminders of things instead of real jokes. A "Breaking Bad" reference that shows Harry's roommate wearing a yellow hazard suit and breaking up blue crystal meth offends with its obviousness, made even worse because it's a Bill Murray cameo that would be fairly funny if only viewers could tell it was him.
What's really disappointing about "Dumb and Dumber To" is how most of the clever wit behind the humor in the original — how it hooked viewers into its inherent silliness — has been replaced by dumb humor that's lacking intelligence in its design. Sure, it's still good for some laughs, but they have little mileage.
- Edited by Emily Brown
WORLD FROM PAGE1
also introduce the members of International Leadership team, recognizing their hard work this semester. The International Leadership Team is a group of returning students who have been selected and paired up with small groups of incoming international students to help acclimate them to the University.
Rahul Raghavan, a student from Trivandrum, India, said it is special for him to help first year international students as part of the International Leadership Team. After moving to the U.S. last August, Raghavan said he felt hostile leaving his home country and was not sure about his decision to come to the United States.
He said he helped out other
international students by meeting and talking to them individually, and by giving them advice about life in the U.S. and Kansas. One student in particular later thanked Raghavan for talking to him. He said the student will now be joining the orientation team because he recognized how important the team is.
Sweat said a lot of international students travel to Kansas with few connections or none at all, and adjusting to a new environment with a different language and culture can be difficult. He said it is important to help these students, since they are going through one of the most important times of their lives.
"If I were to think about sending my own children to a school outside of my hand reach, let alone, outside of
my country, I would want to know that there are people caring and taking action, and whose job is to reach out to students and make sure that my son or daughter knew that they are cared for," Sweat said.
"I think KU really treats everyone the same. Like every Jayhawk is a Jayhawk."
PUTERI AHMAD Freshman from Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Puteri Ahmad, a freshman from Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, had visited the U.S. when she was young. However, she was worried about going to college in the U.S. because of her religious beliefs.
"I thought it was going to be kind of hard because I am a Muslim, and I am wearing the scarf," Ahmad said. "I was actually really scared to come, but once I came here in Lawrence, and I met the people in Lawrence, and how friendly they are and saw how diverse it is here, I could fit in quite easily and quickly."
Ahmad said a week long orientation for international students provided lots of information on living in the U.S., which helped her feel welcome and better adjusted during the transition.
"I don't feel any different from anyone, even though we are international students," Ahmad said. "I think KU really treats everyone the same. Like every Jayhawk is a Jayhawk. So you get the same opportunities, treatments and same involvement at KU.
It's like you have a family here."
Raghavan emphasized the importance of the initial first month for international students.
"Without the orientation, it would be pretty much just leaving you in the wild and trying to guess how to live a life in the U.S." Raghavan said.
"To be able to help people enjoy their experience at KU and benefit from their time here at KU, I think it's really valuable," he said.
Sweat said it is so meaningful to help, support and engage students going through these challenges because he is passionate about the University and passionate about helping others.
Edited by Emily Brown
QUICK QUESTION
"He's my son, and I get to be here to help him if he has questions. As we sit alone together, we understand each other."
MOHAMMAD
GRADUATE STUDENT FROM SAUDI
ARABIA
Mohammad and Azzam Affadeel are a father and son duo from Saudi Arabia, and this year, study buddies too. Mohammad is a graduate student in leadership and higher education, and Azzam is working hard to complete his elementary school education. The pair frequently spends time at Anschutz Library together, and help each other on their homework. This week, the Kansan caught up with Mohammad and Azzam while Mohammad studied for a midterm and Azzam, who wants to be a doctor, worked on a science project about body parts.
DALTON KINGERY/KANSAN
"When I need some help he gets to help me, and sometimes when I don't finish my work we can come over here [the library] and he can help me while he finishes his work."
AZZAM
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