Dinner for Schmucks
Businessman Tim (Paul Rudd) is happy to have met the incredibly stupid, amazingly dense Barry (Steve Carell). He brings him along to his boss' monthly dinner party where guests are challenged to bring along the dumbest person they can find, for the amusement of the group. But instead of being congratulated for bringing such a moron, Tim finds his life spiralling out of control with a series of personal and professional disasters as his new 'friend' accidentally paves a path of destruction.
The cast of comic gold is rounded out by Conchord Jemaine Clement, Hangover beardy man Zach Galifianakis and Office Space's Ron Livingston. This is a re-make of French comedy The Dinner Guest.
- Director:
- Jay Roach ('Austin Powers', 'Meet the Parent', 'Meet the Fockers')
- Writer:
- Andy BorowitzDavid GuionMichael HandelmanFrancis Veber
- Cast:
- Steve CarellPaul RuddStephanie SzostakJemaine ClementZach GalifianakisLucy PunchRon Livingston
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Reviews & comments
Flicks, Team
flicksWhile Rudd is a somewhat bland lead and Clement is clearly standing in for Russell Brand while playing an avant-garde over-sexed artist, the film provides a great showcase for Carell's brand of deadpan nuttiness. Playing a taxidermied mice diorama-creating IRS employee, the close-cropped Carell (almost a dead ringer for NZ's own idiot-savant Paul Henry) is a constant hoot, especially when he does things like describe how Louis Pasteur turned cheese into medicine.
Americans behaving badly
I like Steve Carell. I like Paul Rudd. And Jemaine Clement is easily in the same league. Unfortunately, I also loved Le diner de cons. Which means I had a permanent wince on my face when watching this trailer. Are we entering an era of great international films being re-made abysmally by Americans? (Yes, I'm looking at you, Death at a Funeral!)
Le Diner de Cons? No, unfortunately...
"Le Diner de Cons", otherwise known as "The Dinner Game", is arguably Francis Veber's very best film. Certainly it is the funniest movie I have ever seen in my life. Unfortunately, "Dinner for Schmucks" is not a straight English remake of that film, like "The Fugitives", "The Bird Cage" and other respectfully translated Veber classics. If it were, it...
Variety
pressAn uproarious odd-couple remake of Francis Veber's hit French farce "The Dinner Game."
The New York Times
pressThe film collects a cast of performers who know how to be funny. The success of this movie, following a formula upheld by just about any recent hit comedy you can name, lies as much with supporting players and plot-derailing set pieces as with the central story and characters.
Roger Ebert
pressThe guests at the dinner are a strange lot. To describe them would be to give away their jokes, and one of the pleasures of the movie is having each one appear
New York Daily News
pressWhile the climactic dinner is a bit too much like a circus audition, Roach -- who helmed the "Austin Powers" movies as well as "Meet the Parents" and "Meet the Fockers" -- knows how to enjoy each sideshow.
Hollywood Reporter
pressThough Carell and Rudd are both saddled with characters that just aren't as interesting as many they've played in the past, the movie benefits from having drawn many gifted comedians to supporting roles.
Empire Magazine
pressHardly a classic given the talents of Carell, Rudd and Roach at his best. It bungles utilising plenty of talent in a lightweight comedy effort that brings little fresh to the table.
Christchurch Press
pressThe whole enterprise feels very much like a by the numbers bromance
Flicks, Team
flicksWhile Rudd is a somewhat bland lead and Clement is clearly standing in for Russell Brand while playing an avant-garde over-sexed artist, the film provides a great showcase for Carell's brand of deadpan nuttiness. Playing a taxidermied mice diorama-creating IRS employee, the close-cropped Carell (almost a dead ringer for NZ's own idiot-savant Paul Henry) is a constant hoot, especially when he does things like describe how Louis Pasteur turned cheese into medicine.
Variety
pressAn uproarious odd-couple remake of Francis Veber's hit French farce "The Dinner Game."
The New York Times
pressThe film collects a cast of performers who know how to be funny. The success of this movie, following a formula upheld by just about any recent hit comedy you can name, lies as much with supporting players and plot-derailing set pieces as with the central story and characters.
Roger Ebert
pressThe guests at the dinner are a strange lot. To describe them would be to give away their jokes, and one of the pleasures of the movie is having each one appear
New York Daily News
pressWhile the climactic dinner is a bit too much like a circus audition, Roach -- who helmed the "Austin Powers" movies as well as "Meet the Parents" and "Meet the Fockers" -- knows how to enjoy each sideshow.
Hollywood Reporter
pressThough Carell and Rudd are both saddled with characters that just aren't as interesting as many they've played in the past, the movie benefits from having drawn many gifted comedians to supporting roles.
Empire Magazine
pressHardly a classic given the talents of Carell, Rudd and Roach at his best. It bungles utilising plenty of talent in a lightweight comedy effort that brings little fresh to the table.
Christchurch Press
pressThe whole enterprise feels very much like a by the numbers bromance
Americans behaving badly
I like Steve Carell. I like Paul Rudd. And Jemaine Clement is easily in the same league. Unfortunately, I also loved Le diner de cons. Which means I had a permanent wince on my face when watching this trailer. Are we entering an era of great international films being re-made abysmally by Americans? (Yes, I'm looking at you, Death at a Funeral!)
Le Diner de Cons? No, unfortunately...
"Le Diner de Cons", otherwise known as "The Dinner Game", is arguably Francis Veber's very best film. Certainly it is the funniest movie I have ever seen in my life. Unfortunately, "Dinner for Schmucks" is not a straight English remake of that film, like "The Fugitives", "The Bird Cage" and other respectfully translated Veber classics. If it were, it...
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