Laughter at the expense of others is the foundation of director Jay Roach’s 2010 feature. An indication of what to expect is provided by a director’s resume that includes both Austin Powers and Meet the Parents/Fockers.
Ribald humour, a little slapstick, many misunderstood moments and eventual atonement is thrown into one very large pot as ambitious executive Paul Rudd looks to gain promotion to the eighth floor. Only to achieve that, he must win the dinner for schmucks award. To achieve that, he must attend a dinner with the biggest idiot as his guest. Not something the well-mannered Rudd would contemplate. But he wants his partner of three years (Stephanie Szostak), herself an ambitious gallery manager and curator, to say yes to his proposal of marriage. Then along comes Steve Carrell….
An adaptation of the original Francis Verber French farce Le diner de cons, the Amercian version Dinner For Schmucks is, at times, genuinely funny. But it’s about moments – the premise of the narrative itself is questionable. Whereas the original looked at the ability to laugh at oneself, this looks at naked ambitiion, its consequences alongside pretentiousness and ridiculousness of others (although Octavia Spencer’s moment as a guest is priceless).
Rating: 50%
Director: Jay Roach (Meet the Parents, Bombshell)
Writer: David Guion (Night of the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, The Ex), Michael Handelman (Night of the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, The Ex), Francis Veber (The Birdcage, The Valet)
Main cast: Paul Rudd (Ant-Man, The Fundamentals of Caring), Steve Carrell (Foxtrot, The 40 Year-Old Virgin), Stephanie Szostak (The Devil Wears Prada, We Bought a Zoo)
An Opinion or Two 