After the success of such films as “Dumb and Dumber,” “Kingpin” and “There’s Something About Mary,” the directing duo of the Farrelly brothers were propelled into Hollywood’s A-list of directors. Their 1999 project, “Outside Providence,” was considered a box-office flop by industry standards, but their latest, “Me, Myself & Irene,” will bring them back into to the forefront.

But the Farrelly brothers couldn’t do it by themselves — they reunited with comedy all-star Jim Carrey to play the leading role and cast Renee Zellweger as his co-pilot.

And the two of them fly this movie directly into the type of cult-classic status that now defines such films as “There’s Something About Mary” and “Kingpin.”

The movie begins with Charlie Baileygates (Carrey) as a rookie on the Rhode Island police force. He is married to the most attractive woman in town and has the respect of all his peers.

One day, his wife Layla (Traylor Howard, “Two Guys and a Girl”) winds up having an affair with a black dwarf named Shonte’, and when she and Charlie have their first kid, it ends up being black triplets.

But Charlie isn’t the type of guy who deals with conflict very well, he denies that the kids aren’t his and goes on with his life. When his wife finally leaves him with the kids and runs off with Shonte’, he just takes a deep breath and sucks it up.

The story picks up 18 years later, Charlie and his kids are a happy family, but by now there isn’t a person in the town who respects Charlie as an officer of the law.

He avoids conflict whenever it occurs; he is bossed around by the townspeople and he is told off by a young girl who is jump roping in the streets.

But when he is in the grocery store and lets a lady cut in line, her kids come up with three carts full of stuff.

At that point, something deep down inside Charlie explodes and he becomes “Hank”, a ruthless, rude, conflict-craving guy who talks with a low and evil tone.

After hilariously embarrassing the lady at the grocery store, Hank heads out on the town and gets his revenge on all the people who disrespected him.

Charlie is diagnosed as having a form of schizophrenia, and he’s given pills to deal with his condition.

One day, Irene (Zellweger) is picked up by the Rhode Island police, and because she is tangled up in some legal problems from her home in upstate New York, Charlie has to drive her up there so he can take a vacation.

It turns out that Irene’s job has gotten her tied up with the wrong people and her life is in danger. She teams up with Charlie for help but he leaves his medication in his hotel and becomes Hank.

Throughout the movie, Charlie and Hank are constantly battling each other for who will appear, and stressful situations bring out Hank.

This switch of personalities makes for very funny conflicts, but some of the other characters, such as Charlie’s kids, Shonte’ Jr., Lee Harvey and Jamaal, and an albino waiter named Whitey who hooks up with Charlie and Irene, add even more humor.

Carrey delivers another impressive comedic performance, his outstanding physical comedy and the ability to play any character in a realistic manner makes for great entertainment.

Zellweger is even more engaging than she was in “Jerry Maguire.” She successfully plays the straightman to the rubber-faced Carrey.

Some scenes recycle Carrey-comedy bits from the past. For example, when Hank and Charlie begin fighting each other, it is all too reminiscent of “Liar, Liar.”

“Me, Myself & Irene” is definitely not a movie for deep thinking, but if you’re looking for a good laugh, this movie will do it time and time again.

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Kyle Moss is a sophomore in journalism and mass communications from Urbandale. He is arts and entertainment editor of the Daily.