It was 1994. Bill (not Hilary) Clinton headed the political landscape, Netscape Navigator was released, OJ drove that white Bronco into history, and Rock N' Roll lost a God. Gas was a buck, Nancy Kerrigan was yelling, "Why me?" after that brutal knee bashing, Michael Jackson was married to Elvis' daughter, and Vanilla Ice had dreads. Seriously, check this shit out.
Movies like Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption were making their way into the cinematographic Hall of Fame, but one movie jabbed its fist through the rib cages and pulled out the hearts of Americans.
Dumb and Dumber chronicled the cross country journey of Lloyd (Jim Carrey) and Harry (Jeff Daniels) as they struggled to return the lost briefcase of Lloyd's "soulmate." It was an epic saga, with the depth of a Tokyo Story, adventures mirroring those of the Odyssey, and characters who audiences grew to admire and love despite their personal demons and struggles. Plus, Jim Carrey hadn't yet done The Truman Show, and Jeff Daniels hadn't done Pleasantville, so we all still had our...ya know, innocence.
Though he was overlooked by critics and judges of the award shows, the Mutts Cutts Van played the role of sidekick, like Sherlock's Watson. He masterfully wove into his character comedy, sadness and a gleeful sort of despair, when he had to "take one for the team" and couldn't continue the journey with his companions. And yes, he did his own stunts.
He played a small role in Napoleon Dynamite. That's right, the Mutts Cutts Van, the same, lighthearted, smiling, goofy van of Dumb and Dumber, was the often brooding, resentful, washed up, peaked-in-high-school Tradesman 300 Santana in the 2004 dry-comedy, Napoleon Dynamite. He played the motorized counterpart of Napoleon's uncle, a former high school quarterback, who couldn't give up the dream. Unlike Uncle Rico, the Tradesman had given up his dream, a role that eeirly appeared to be a microcosm of Cutts' own life. The role of the Tradesman foreshadows what's to become of Uncle Rico after the delusions fade and he's left to engage the realization that he is a wastrel, a wanderer, a has-been.
Movies like Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption were making their way into the cinematographic Hall of Fame, but one movie jabbed its fist through the rib cages and pulled out the hearts of Americans.
Though he was overlooked by critics and judges of the award shows, the Mutts Cutts Van played the role of sidekick, like Sherlock's Watson. He masterfully wove into his character comedy, sadness and a gleeful sort of despair, when he had to "take one for the team" and couldn't continue the journey with his companions. And yes, he did his own stunts.
After his role in Dumber and Dumber, the Mutts Cutts Van was pigeon holed as a comic van. His playful style of dress and flamboyant public image exacerbated this image. For years, the only roles he could land were bit parts on TV shows, like NYPD Blue, and parts as an extra in car chase scenes.
It wasn't until 10 years later, after a couple of run-ins with the law--one being a DUI...c'mon dude, so cliche--a brief stint in rehab (he was a huffer), a couple of failed marriages (most notibly the short, two-month marriage to the Convertible from Kingpin) and a complete image makeover, that he landed his next, and last, big role.
He played a small role in Napoleon Dynamite. That's right, the Mutts Cutts Van, the same, lighthearted, smiling, goofy van of Dumb and Dumber, was the often brooding, resentful, washed up, peaked-in-high-school Tradesman 300 Santana in the 2004 dry-comedy, Napoleon Dynamite. He played the motorized counterpart of Napoleon's uncle, a former high school quarterback, who couldn't give up the dream. Unlike Uncle Rico, the Tradesman had given up his dream, a role that eeirly appeared to be a microcosm of Cutts' own life. The role of the Tradesman foreshadows what's to become of Uncle Rico after the delusions fade and he's left to engage the realization that he is a wastrel, a wanderer, a has-been.
Once again, Mutts Cutts was praised by his fellow actors, but forgotten by the critics. After Napoleon Dynamite, he went on a three-year spiritual journey. He did Peyote with the Native American Church, committed to a year of silence in a small Tibetan village, lived with the indigenous people of Amazonian Peru, and had a healing vision after consuming ayahuasca tea.
Lately, he has been touring the country and giving inspirational speeches along the way...and an occasional joy ride for his fans. Recently, he was quoted as saying that his life was "on the road to balance and peace," but there was one thing nagging him. He didn't say what, but he did say, "I'm working on something exciting now, and I hope it will put me on track to right this negative part of my life."
Could this be it?
That's right...if you've been watching any t.v. lately, you probably have spotted him as the dog-car in the new Febreze Car Vent Clips commercial (see entire commercial below). Could this be the "something exciting?" If it is, I'd have to say that I can see the old Mutts Cutts sparkle in his eyes. And his hair is a youthful juxtaposition of an older Keith Richards and a Legends of the Fall Brad Pitt.
Could this be a Mutts Cutts career comeback? Or is it his last hurrah? A last chance of ending his career on a happy note?
**check out the whole commercial below
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