Brittany Daniel and David Spade attend the world premiere of “Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser” at Cary Grant Theatre in Culver City, Calif., on June 24, 2015. (Photo credit: John Salangsang/BFA/Sipa USA/TNS)

By Rick Bentley
The Fresno Bee

PASADENA, Calif. — Fourteen years ago, “Joe Dirt” revealed how much business could be done in the front and partying in the back with a mullet haircut. David Spade sports that haircut again as the online distributor Crackle presents “Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser.”

In this sequel to the 2001 cult favorite, the white-trash hero embarks on journeys through the recent past, the heartland of America and his own mind to get back to his loved ones.

It’s taken 14 years to get a sequel made but not because of Spade.

“I’ve been trying to do a sequel to this pretty soon after we did it, to be honest. And it wound up taking a while. I was doing that TV show, and all that stuff,” Spade says. “We had a script. We always wanted to do it, we just don’t know what to do about that.

“It’s either they’re going to come to us or we’re going to go to them. But we sort of were all doing our own things. We were going to do a Joe Dirt cartoon, an animated show, a while back, and then we didn’t do that.”

The growth in social media was a big factor in getting the sequel made. Spade and co-star Brittany Daniels were constantly hearing from fans of the original movie asking for another film to be made. The more the fans mentioned the movie, the more motivated Spade became to make the sequel.

The cast also includes Christopher Walken, Dennis Miller, Adam Beach, Patrick Warburton, Mark McGrath, Charlotte McKinney and Kevin Farley.

McGrath — best known as the singer for Sugar Ray and for his role in “Sharknado 2: The Second One” — was not in the original film. He didn’t hesitate to sign on when he got the call because of his love for the original film and Spade

“I was just so honored. All I wanted to do was make these guys happy and to be part of it. These guys are funny. They keep it light. They’re so creative. I was just so honored to be part of this cast,” McGrath says. “Brittany looks more beautiful than the day she left the set of the first one.

“I just I feel like I won a contest, and I’m in ‘Joe Dirt 2.’ I think that’s the long way of saying what the hell am I doing in this film, which you’re all thinking.”

Daniel describes her “Dirt” role of Brandy as one of the most loved characters she’s played. Her credits range from “Sweet Valley High” to “The Game.” It’s also one of her favorite roles.

Her theory is that people love Brandy so much because the character has so much heart.

“I think there’s just such a sweetness between Brandy and Joe. And I think because Joe is such kind of the underdog, there’s such a soft place in my heart for this character,” Daniel says. “David and I have been talking for years about ‘is this movie going to come back, can we do a sequel to it.’

“It’s really a dream come true that they were able to finally bring it back. Because, I don’t know why, it hits me really deep in my heart. Because me, personally, I always do root for the underdog. Brittany does. So the fact is that I really do care about the character deeply.”

Getting actors to sign on or return to the franchise was easier than getting the mullet wig back. As far as Spade knows, the wig he wore in the original “Joe Dirt” is on display somewhere in a Hard Rock Cafe. He jokes the production team spent another $100 to get him a new mullet wig.

Spade’s willingness to slip a wig back on isn’t based on the potential financial gain from making the movie. The original film made $27 million, not enough to put it in the top 2,500 highest grossing movies. “Grown Ups” is the only film Spade stars in that’s considered an actual box office hit.

His passion for “Joe Dirt” comes from how the movie has never gone away. It continues to pop up on cable channels and is available on DVD.

“It wasn’t really a huge money maker for me, personally. It was a nice feeling to have this. This is the business I’m in and I’m in comedy, and people remember certain things. And when they talk about ‘Tommy Boy,’ it’s very nice,” Spade says. “That’s another movie that didn’t make a ton. But I think you try to judge these movies five or 10 years down the line to see what you hear about and what you don’t.

“I’ve done probably 20, 25 movies, and there’s probably four you hear about a lot. I do like to hear about ‘Tommy Boy.’ I love to hear ‘Joe Dirt.’ And that’s the one that’s sort of every day I hear the most about. So that means more to me than some of the other things.”