Dinner for Schmucks
Dinner for Schmucks is based on the 1998 French film The Dinner Game. Tim (Paul Rudd) is making impressive jumps up the corporate ladder despite backstabbing by jealous co workers. He learns that he can really cinch that corner office by landing one perfect client – the most outstanding idiot as designated by his boss Lance Fender (Vancouver's Bruce Greenwood) when brought as a guest to one of Lance’s swish dinner party. When Tim literally runs into Barry (Steve Carell), a taxman/taxidermist who makes dioramas from dead mice he can almost feel the executive washroom key jingling in his pocket. His own conscience bothers him but the biggest obstacle is Tim’s disapproving girlfriend Julie (Stephanie Szostak). Tim invites Barry anyway and soon discovers how devastating it can be to have such a well meaning but monstrous loser enter his life. Tim’s trick back leaves these guys alone together for a day that sees Barry inadvertently manufacture one disaster after another for Tim, not the least of which is to reveal Tim’s address to his on line stalker Darla (Lucy Punch) - who actually seems like a little more fun that Julie. Dinner for Schmucks is The Hangover for the summer of 2010 and just like that sleeper comedy coincidentally has Zach Galifianakis in a secondary role. One might assume that this is the corporate equivalent of a college “pig” party spawning expectations of low grade laughs hinged on degradation but the comedy here is brilliant. That’s largely dues to Carell’s inventive interpretation of a totally unlikeable character that can engender so much pathos.