'Dinner For Schmucks'

'Dinner For Schmucks' (PG-13) (3 stars)

Writers: Michael Handelman and David Guion based on film "Le Diner de Cons" by Francis Veber
Director: Jay Roach
Starring: Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Zach Galfianakis, Lucy Punch, Stephanie Szostak, Jemaine Clement, Bruce Greenwood

"Dinner For Schmucks" is an offbeat and quirky black comedy that grew on me thanks to Steve Carell and Paul Rudd who are fantastic here. The movie also has a lot of heart and a sweet message that is not cloying. Paul Rudd, probably the best straight man in movies, plays Tim. Tim is a young executive trying to move up in the corporate world. To please his sleazy boss, played wonderfully by Bruce Greenwood, he takes part in a cruel contest. All the rising new corporate drones bring some idiot to a dinner at their boss's house where they can be made fun of. The employee with the biggest idiot wins the contest. Tim meet Barry, played by Steve Carell, who stuffs dead mice and builds sets and scenes for them to be in. The movie is not always laugh out loud funny but it does have it's moments of very funny scenes that make you giggle. I thought the movie was charming and the performances were all winners. Steve Carell is having a great year with this and "Date Night" and he is picking smart projects and he is always very funny. Paul Rudd does the straight man better than anyone and he is building up a smart resume also with this and a lot of very good movies he has been in the last few years. Lucy Punch is also very funny here and due to her performance I expect to see her a lot and very soon. Zach Galfiniakis is also amusing here and he is deservedly becoming a huge comic star. This movie has it's weak moments and some of the slapstick is messy and unfunny. Finally though this is a pleasant comedy that is charming and you won't mind the message the movie conveys. Humor and heart doesn't always have to come out as sappy and awkward.