Dinner For Schmucks

Friday, 22nd July 2011

Dinner For Schmucks

What I thought about the film.

Today I watched Dinner For Schmucks directed by Jay Roach .

It is a heartfelt, seat dropping comedy starring Paul Rudd as Timothy "Tim" Conrad who is an ambitious finacial executive who genuinely wants to impress his long term girlfriend Julie (Stephanie Szostak) by getting a promotion from his boss Lance Fender (Bruce Greenwood)  who invites him to a "Dinner for winners" to which Tim must bring a "Talented guest" The most " Talented guest" gets a trophy and the executive gets the glory. Tim later learns that it is actually a dinner for idiots and the trophy goes to the biggest loser.

After Tim's girlfriend Julie finds out about the cruel natures of the dinner party she asks him not to attend and he willingly agrees with her thoughts and decision.

The next day, ironically, Tim accidently hits Barry Speck (Steve Carell) with his car. Who turns out to be the perfect guest for the "Dinner for winners" night. Tim hits Barry with his porsche as Barry attempts to save a dead mouse in the road. While helping Barry pick up his belongings from the street, Tim soon learns that Barry has a creepy habit of reconstructing dead mice bodies. Tim also learns that Barry would most certainly be the perfect guest to the idiots dinner and decides to go and invite Barry to it the next day.

Julie later discovers that Tim is still planning to attend the dinner and leaves distraught. Barry turns up to Tim's apartment a day early for the dinner when realising that just about ruins Tim's life by giving Tim's stalker of three years Tim's apartment address and giving Julie a reason to think Tim is cheating on her.

Distraught and heartbroken Tim, is left with the idea that Julie is now going to cheat on him with her wild life loving buisness client Kieran Vollard (Jemaine Clement). With Tim's love life in a screwed up he a still had a shot at his promotion that is until Barry once again invites Tim's Stalker Darla (Lucy Punch) to destroy that aswell.

After the spectacle at the buisness lunch Tim feels bad for treating Barry so badly and realises that all Barry wants to do is help. Barry shows up to the dinner regardless and wins the competition for the biggest idiot but suprisingly Barry is happy to be the biggest idiot.

At the end of the disastrous dinner Tim goes back to his apartment thinking that Julie has left for good and spills his deep passionate feelings for her and apolagises to Barry for his selfish and mean attitude and admits that everything that has happened is his fault and not Barry's which Julie coinsidently over hears and instantly drops her bags and falls for her destined fiance!

Even though the story line of this film is a typical happily ever after the cinematography of the film is great which was done by Jim Denault. The angles of the camera give off the emotion of the characters and emphasise the funny bits of the film.

I thoroughly enjoyed this comedy whilst it was hilarious it has romance in it as well so it could win off the best of both audiences. If your looking for a movie that will keep you on the edge of your seats in anticipation and laughter this is the one for you. I would  give this film a 4/5.