There's Something About Carrey

THE FARRELLY BROTHERS' ME, MYSELF & IRENE

Though you wouldn't necessarily know it from watching a Martin Lawrence movie, even the broadest comedy requires craft and discipline. Peter and Bobby Farrelly, the writer-director brothers who previously brought us Dumb & Dumber and There's Something About Mary, have clearly been studying their Lubitsch as well as their Caddyshack. Their willingness to use their advanced joke-telling skills to explore the humor even your mother will secretly admit is inherent in diarrhea, jism, and so forth is an act of noblesse oblige that should not be taken for granted.

The brothers' extremely funny new movie, Me, Myself & Irene, isn't quite as extremely funny as 1998's There's Something About Mary, but then, no movie could be, and as a subject for debate this is as beside the point as, I don't know, arguing about who's the cooler Dutch person, Vincent van Gogh or ... I can't think of another one. Dick Van Dyke? Anyway, here's what I can tell you about the new picture without spoiling it:

1. Jim Carrey, returning to physical comedy after a couple years' service as Oscar bait, plays a Rhode Island state cop with a split personality. A true genius, he can get a laugh simply sliding off a car hood, which, fortunately, is the least of what he's asked to do here.

2. Renée Zellweger is the love interest/straight woman. Surely no actress working today could kick a cow carcass even half as fetchingly.

3. The film contains what should stand for years to come as the definitive milk-mustache joke. (Not as gross as you probably suspect.)

4. The film also contains what will no doubt become one of the summer's most-quoted lines, at least among 14-year-olds: "A little extra cheese on the taco?" (Even grosser than you probably suspect, and, come to think of it, most 14-year-olds won't even get it unless...well, never mind.) (Rating: ★★★ 1/2)

BRUCE HANDY