From the opening of Dinner For Schmucks, you may think you are in the latest Wes Anderson film. Like Fantastic Mr. Fox, we see obsessively detailed rodents (still this time) across elaborately designed backgrounds and photographed with precision. All while The Beatles‘ Fool On The Hill is meticulously playing. What follows is nearly just as offbeat as an Anderson film, but not as clever or perfectly crafted.
Paul Rudd is Tim, a financial analyst who desperately wants to move up the corporate ladder after a coworker above him got fired. After impressing his boss (Bruce Greenwood) he is invited to a dinner in which they each have to bring an idiot along to make fun of. Meanwhile his (gorgeous) wife Julie (Stephanie Szostak) is a curator whose latest client is the eccentric Kieran, played hilariously by Jemaine Clement. Tim comes across the perfect “idiot” for the dinner, a mice-obsessed Barry (Steve Carell).
The bizarre nature of the comedy doesn’t lend itself well to quick snippets, as we saw in the godawful trailers for the film. The structure is predictable, but Roach keeps us on our feet as the jokes that make it up are always off-kilter. Due to the escapades being done for shock value and little else, I can already feel the effect wearing off on repeat viewings. That doesn’t take away from the barreling, unexpected pace of the quick-hitting slapstick.
The annoying character of Carell seen in the trailers has a much more effective backstory in the film and actually pulls off one of his best comedic performances in recent memory. He plays a mix of geeky 40-Year-Old Virgin and oblivious Michael Scott, with the heart of both. Flight of the Conchords star Jemaine Clement is the real highlight here, an eccentric artist obsessed with animals to the point of pseudo-bestiality. His off-the-wall character and outlandish responses make for a ridiculously entertaining time. Most surprisingly Zach Galifianakis is the weak link. Although he has little screentime, his psychic shtick wears thin extremely fast. Paul Rudd plays it straight, a necessary factor for all the absurdity occurring around him.
Running nearly two hours, when we finally get to the dinner, the film has nearly worn out its welcome. The unexpected absurdity that makes up the first two acts was an refreshing surprise, but when we start to expect it, things get dry. Thankfully, it doesn’t last too long and the conclusion involving Clement, Carell, Rudd and Szostak is quite gratifying.
Schmucks is stupid to its core but its far better than the mean-spirited joke-less romp that the marketing suggests. The laughs are a-plenty and while it may not be worth the full-course meal, there is enough to keep you full.
6 out of 10