Review of Dinner for Schmucks (2010) by Justinsmith — 25 Sep 2010

Like many comedies before it, Dinner for Schmucks relies heavily on misunderstandings to fuel it's humor, which works here more often than not, but takes its sweet time getting there.

Following the basic premise of the French film, The Dinner Game (1998), the American version features Paul Rudd as Tim, a guy hoping to simultaneously impress his girlfriend, Julie (Stephanie Szostak), while attempting to climb the corporate ladder from the sixth floor to the coveted seventh. His proposal impresses the boss (Bruce Greenwood), which gets him an invite to a monthly dinner where each guest brings the biggest idiot they can find to make fun of. This may seem cruel, and it is, but the film attempts to use care in dealing with it (at least as much care as any film directed by Jay Roach ever will). After Julie convinces Tim to turn down the invite, and hence the promotion, Tim runs into Barry (Steve Carell) who surpasses his wildest dreams of the ultimate schmuck with his taxidermy mouseterpieces and misunderstanding of everything from insurance to John Lennon lyrics. Due to confusion about when the dinner is to take place, Barry becomes Tim's odd couple roommate the day before, which allows for a number of comedic situations to take place (some more predictable than others).

Although Rudd and Carell are a good comedy team, early on the film feels like its reaching for jokes and only grabbing hold on occasion. That is until we get the supporting cast. Nearly every scene with the supporting cast generates enough laughs to make up for the few lesser scenes with the stars. That's not to say Rudd and Carell never make good on their odd couple standing, Once momentum picks up, our fumbling duo work their way into a sea of awkward situations that bring the laugh meter up to the appropriate level.

Along the way there are many recognizable cast members in small roles, such as Kristen Schaal, who shows up as Tim's secretary, Susana, and changed the way I think about coleslaw, and Lucy Punch as Darla, the obsessive blond who strives to throw a wrench in Tim's plans. Most notable however is Zach Galifianakis (who play Tim's mind controlling boss, Therman) and Jemaine Clement (as the artist, Kieran, who defies description, logic, and reason). Both Zach and Jemaine are in top form and deliver the most memorable performances in the film. With the exception of Ron Livingston (who is sadly misused here), the supporting cast helps the film along, keeping it from getting bogged down in a mire of mediocre comedy. The film has its ups and downs throughout, but it's all ups once the dinner party begins. If the entire film were as funny as the dinner scene, Dinner for Schmucks would be in the running for comedy classic status.

With a few ins, a few outs, and a few what-have-yous, Dinner for Schmucks is good for a laugh, but a laugh that can wait until it's on video.