| Dinner For Schmucks Review One thing I love about Steve Carrell is how he can sink himself into what I consider to be a very annoying character and he continually finds tics and mannerisms that wind up making me like the dude. Look at some of his characters, Michael Scott on the Office...Andy in the 40 Year Old Virgin, even Brick Tamland in Anchorman (let's not mention Evan Almighty alright?) He finds the funny in some weird corners and makes me like him despite my better intentions.
But then there is Paul Rudd...and it's like the complete opposite. I like the guy from interviews, he seems like a likeable guy, smiling and charming...but in most of his movies I find him to be the comedic equivalent of wallpaper paste...sure he gets the job done but it's not very tasty.
Why is it you can say something like wallpaper paste isn't very tasty and people know what you mean?
Fun note: Jay Roach directed the flick. You know...he's the safe solid comedy director who can make an Austin Powers film or a Meet the Parents...but for some reason he also thinks we are blind. Towards the end of the film there is a scene where Barry (Carrell) takes three steps into a pond to ponder his situation...pond to ponder? anyway, before he goes in there's a wideshot and I see his pantlegs are wet about a foot above the foot. A foot above the foot, a pond to ponder, what the hell am I writing? Point is, this was obviously a second take and they didn't bother drying off or changing his pants and I couldn't figure out why.
Still can't.
The film isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination and it never quite gets crazy or stupid enough for my tastes in the end, but it does build, making you wait a long time for the dinner. The dinner is one of the best parts of the film, leaves you wanting more which is a compliment, but I also paid to see a movie called Dinner for Schmucks and almost thnk it would have been braver if most (or at least half) of the movie had been the dinner.
Other strong points in my view...Zach Galifiankis, making good career choices so far but still early to determine if he is an Aykroyd or a Murray.
Jemaine Clement asa very bestial and memorable artist taking a step not too far from Flight of the Conchords but still a step.
Lucy Punch had a bad review or two for being too crazy or over the top, however that is exactly what I liked about her. She went out to the line and took a tiny step over it. Crazy psycho sexual hose beast.
The one thing I can't fathom, and it comes in the form of a question I guess...Is Ron Livingston an asshole...cause I like the guy, I like how he handles playing a smug suit and yet despite everything his lead roles are few and far between (Yes, I know Office Space) but his small roles are huge, Sex and the City, Band of Brothers ...but he always seems on the sidelines of the good stuff.
All in all, will make for a good DVD rental but no need to run out ASAP to the theatre tonight, but you could sure do worse.
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