In the mid-1990s came the comedy film Stupid and stupid took the world by storm with its outrageous humor and unforgettable characters. Released in 1994 and directed by Peter Farrelly, the film revolves around two friends, Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) and Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels), who embark on a road trip from Providence, Rhode Island, to Aspen, Colorado, to to return the suitcase full of money to its rightful owner. Despite their various misadventures and mishaps, Lloyd and Harry remain determined to complete their mission, convinced that returning the briefcase will bring a great reward. Along the way, they display an unwavering loyalty to each other and a sense of humor that keeps them going no matter 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 take a closer look at the cities where the movie was shot and discover the unique charms that made this movie classic from Farrelly.
Rhodes Island
The story begins at the airport, when Lloyd Christmas, riding in a limousine, arrives to collect Mary Swanson from the airport. Those scenes were filmed at TF Green Airport in Providence, Rhode Island. Although the movie starts there, so the characters leave Rhode Island, we have a small scene to establish the characters’ home, with shots including the famous Big Blue Bug – the 17-foot-tall mascot that has graced the roof since 1980 from the pest control company Big Blue Bug Solutions.
Another memorable scene from Stupid and stupid 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 tries to deliver a suitcase to Mary in the bathroom. Lincoln is a quiet suburb of Providence, known for its natural beauty and opportunities for outdoor recreation. Providence is a charming city with a rich history and vibrant arts scene, where visitors can stroll along picturesque Waterplace Park, explore the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, or sample the city’s renowned Italian cuisine.
Colorado
Since they travel a lot in the movie, we should also discuss the highways. Most of the transcontinental journey, fast food restaurants and truck stops, was filmed all over Fort Morgan on the eastern plains of Colorado, where the “wrong-way scene” takes place when the pair get into an epic fight after Lloyd drives in the wrong direction for five hours.
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 town in the film, the arrival and mini-bike scene were not filmed in Aspen. The first was actually filmed on Main Street, Breckenridge, central Colorado, because it is higher up and more likely to have snow in late spring, making the film’s production easier. This decision would probably have been cheaper too, a win-win situation for the crew. Breckenridge also serves as the backdrop for the moment when Harry and Lloyd trade their dog van for a moped.
The hotel where Lloyd and Harry are staying, called ‘Danbury Hotel’, is actually it 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 at Stephen King’s The shining after staying there for several nights. Kubrick’s film was not filmed there, but the TV series was. But return to Stupid and dumbif you watch the Avalanche Bar & Grill scene, where Lloyd waits in vain for Mary Swanson, it was shot in the Stanley Hotel bar.
Utah
Finally, we move to the film’s final location: Utah, setting the stage for a short scene in which Lloyd and Harry are chased by the criminals behind the briefcase. That was filmed in it Park City, Utah. Also, the chalet and house of Nicholas Andre (Charles Rocket) is said to be in Aspen, which was shot in Deer Valley. This famous mountain is also located in Park City, the same mountain town that hosts the Sundance Film Festival.
There was also another scene, the Snowy Owl Benefit, which was filmed at the Union Pacific Railroad Depot in 1909 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Now the venue has become called a live music venue The depot. Finally, the interior scenes – or most of them – were filmed at Intermountain Studios, the same ones The Osmonds built for The Donnie and Marie Osmond Show. Just a little case where it’s funny exploring the actual locations and comparing them to where they’re supposed to be in the movie, and how the magic that happens behind the cameras is phenomenal.