Dinner for Schmucks (***1/2)

The films of François Veber may not be known to most Americans, yet quite a few are indirectly familiar via numerous Hollywood remakes. A mixed bag, these range from the awful Richard Pryor vehicle The Toy (1982) to the better-received Birdcage (1996). (Once, in the case of Three Fugitives, he directed his own remake.) But this version of 1998’s The Dinner Game may be the funniest yet. Just as with the older movie, the plot involves a group who dine together and compete to see who can bring the biggest idiot as a guest. The idiot, Barry, is played by Steve Carrell; the straight man in this buddy comedy is Paul Rudd. Having similarly played a foil to Jason Segel’s goofball in I Love You, Man, Rudd has arguably managed to appear in the funniest Hollywood comedy two years running. (Maybe three, counting his small part in Forgetting Sarah Marshall in 2008.)

On its face, the setup here is blander. Veber was willing to make his straight man less sympathetic, more deserving of the comeuppence he gets. Rudd plays a nice guy hoping for a promotion and feeling forced to go along with the cruel prank to get a promotion. He has a sweet girlfriend who thinks it isn’t funny. But, of course, it is, and while straying a little from Veber’s script, director Jay Roach (Austin Powers, Meet the Parents) surprisingly manages to make this version about as good. (He’s aided by the writers of the 2006 flop comedy The Ex.) Where the remake has the advantage is in including a few memorable supporting characters, most notably Jemaine Clement as an artsy variation on the Russell Brand rock-star character in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Zach Galifianakis (of The Hangover) as Barry’s nutty boss, who thinks he’s mastered mind control.

The opening sequence is also worth mentioning. As lovely as it is funny, it’s a montage of taxidermy mice in elaborate dioramas, with the Beatles song “The Fool on the Hill.” Creating these scenes is Barry’s hobby. (In Veber’s version it was toothpick art.)

As Barry, Carell is like a modern Peter Sellers, tending to play a buffoon or a naïf, but always a different sort than the time before. (His nerdy look here helps.) Barry reminded me of Bill Murray’s character in What About Bob?, not because he’s similar, but because both characters are sympathetic yet annoying. Barry is not as annoying to the audience, but very annoying to the Rudd character. He’s the type who tries to help out but creates havoc. Who ends up being the schmuck is open to debate.

IMDB link

viewed 7/8/10 (PFS screening at Ritz 5) and reviewed 7/11–31/10