Review - Matt Mungle

   

There is a saying in poker that if you can't spot the sucker in the first half hour at the table, then you ARE the sucker. In the new comedy Dinner for Schmucks from director Jay Roach (Meet the Parents and Austin Powers films), I have to wonder if the sucker in all of this are the movie goers. We have all been awaiting this comedy for months thanks to a brilliantly funny trailer. But my concern is that when it is all said and done we are the ones being laughed at.

The story is about an up and coming executive named Tim (Paul Rudd) who wants to impress his boss (Bruce Greenwood). To do so he must attend a company dinner party in which each member of the firm invites the biggest idiot they know. They call it a dinner for winners but little do the guests know but what they are winning is the title of biggest idiot. Tim reluctantly joins in by inviting his new friend Barry (Steve Carell) who has a very strange hobby indeed. Sadly Tim get more than he bargained for as Barry all but ruins Tim’s life; although he really means well.

The main issue is that the draw of the film, the dinner, doesn’t happen until way over an hour into the movie. It is more about this good hearted nerd and the havoc he wreaks on Tim. It felt a lot like the early 90’s Bill Murray comedy What About Bob? It is less about this dinner and more about this annoying guy that Tim can’t seem to get rid of. Don’t get me wrong, the movie is funny and Carell is in top form but it isn’t the movie I went to see. Or thought I was going to see. Once they finally make it to the dinner party it is non stop laughs and bust a gut moments. But it seemed too little too late. If anything it is more a dysfunctional romantic comedy concerning Tim and his girlfriend Julie (Stephanie Szostak).

There is a message here about people and their feelings. How we sometimes instantly judge and laugh at others because they are quirky in some way. But once we get to know them we find that they have passions, loves and hurts like the rest of us. The film sort of shows that point but definitely doesn’t make a lot of effort to drive it home. Dinner for Schmucks is rated PG-13 for sequences of crude and sexual content, some partial nudity and language. Though good natured most of the time there are several scenes that parents will find awkward to watch with their High Schooler’s. Even some couples might find it too sophomoric for a strong date night film. All in all I found it disappointing and though the laughs were there and at times strong it still didn’t have the substance I would have hoped for. I can only give it 2.75 out of 5 place settings. It might have been funnier had I been told up front what to expect. Sucker.