Based on a French comedy called Le Dîner de Cons, 2010’s Dinner for Schmucks is a politically
incorrect screwball comedy. Featuring likeable leads and an overstretched
central idea, the film stars Paul Rudd as ambitious financial executive called
Tim Conrad. After impressing his managers, Tim is invited to an exclusive
dinner which he hopes will lead to a long overdue promotion. The only catch is
that each guest must bring a plus one, chosen for their ability to compete for
the prize of ‘biggest loser’. Tim’s in two minds about attending the
insensitive dinner but when he literally runs into the sweet but simple
squirrel taxidermist Barry Speck (Steve Carell) and thinks to himself, what’s
the worst that could happen?
Despite being a fan of pretty
much everyone in front of the camera in this movie, it passed me by until now.
I remember its release but the trailers and reviews did nothing to pull me to
the cinema. It’s not a film I’m gutted to have missed three years ago but I
came out the other side thinking that it was an average comedy which was short
on laughs and story but enjoyable nonetheless.
