Big Screen Blurb: Dinner for Schmucks

There are few movies that I have enjoyed the 'post-credit entourage' for more than Dinner for Schmucks. The movie, however...well, that's another story. Don't get me wrong, this flick has its moments and a few of them at that. But this Paul Rudd-Steve Carell combo, tallies only 2.0 stars in my book. With plenty of comedic options out there, wait for a rental.

It's the story of a guy named Tim (Rudd) struggling to make it to the top in a financial firm owned by Mr. Lance Fender (Bruce Greenwood). His latest effort at moving up a few floors would have him attend a special annual dinner hosted by Fender. The dinner is essentially a dinner for dorks. The big guys bring the biggest loser they can find and said losers battle it out for the embarrasingly coveted, "Idiot of the Year" award. Sounds a little mean, hey? Tim is hesitant, but opportunity knocks. Actually, it crashes. Tim hits Barry (Carell) with his car while the latter is attempting to retrieve a dead mouse from the street. Barry, an IRS guy who hobbies himself by displaying dead mice in little clothes and creative scenery, offers a sum of $10,000 to avoid legal trouble...yeah, it was Barry that was on the profiting end of the legal stick, but don't tell him that! With that, Tim sees an opportunity. He's officially found a dork for the dinner.

You would think that the dinner would quickly emerge as the movie's focal point--like Clue only a 'who's the biggest schmuck' mystery swapped for a 'murder' mystery. Not so fast, my friend. This plot takes a long and seemingly senseless path to that dinner. Yadayadayada...two hours and 2.0 Stars later...I get to roll with laughter during the role of the post-credit entourage!

I really saw this plot unfolding in a different way. Jay Roach directed and typically, I'm a big fan. I loved the Focker series and Charlie Bartlett, but just couldn't embrace his vision here. There is no main character in this movie that is remotely likeable. Only Tim's girlfriend tips the likeable chart and she's a fairly rare presence on-screen. In flicks where professional dorks take center stage, well, you usually take a strong liking to the geek at some point in the movie. Barry was so freakishly, mind-blowingly and dsyfunctionally stupid throughout, it was difficult to say, "yeah...I wouldn't mind having this guy around". Sure, we're not supposed to like the self-centered Tim--at least not until the end, but even then I was luke-warm on the character. With that said, it's hard to comment on the acting. I'm sure Carell delivered the role to match Roach's vision...I just didn't like the vision.

My main issue with Dinner for Schmucks is the plot. It seems that the movie brass were saying, "hey, we can't make a movie around this dinner so let's throw in a lot of crap to bridge the gap and hope that some of it sticks to the wall." Well, guys...it's crap, not pasta. I think the dinner could have been written as the focal point. With the right writing and the typical comedic Rudd-Carell combo like what we saw in The 40-Year Old Virgin, I would be posting a different kind of review.

Yeah, the yard is mowed...not the hill though--hey, get off my back...it didn't need it okay! Enjoy your weekend and soak in the last few weeks of summer!!!

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