Dinner for Schmucks
Rules are made to be jostled. Take the American remake of “Dinner Game” now titled “Dinner for Schmucks”. In 99% cases, the result would have been catastrophic and pathetic. Off this is not the case here as the laughter is abundant and quite operable chemistry between the two headliners.
Tim (Paul Rudd) has impressed his boss. Well enough to be invited to a special evening. If he is an idiot for grandstanding, he will probably be promoted. But before that, he must get his hands on this gem. It appears through Barry (Steve Carell), a poor fellow who recreates famous paintings with dead rats! This choice, however, might put his life upside down.
For over a decade that Hollywood tries to implement “Dinner cunts”, the huge success of Francis Veber, who had rallied the public and critics in 1998. From that time, numerous directors and actors are considered, while the scramble crossing scenarios. While the project seemed dead in the egg, it rises from its centers, notably through the executive producer Sacha Baron Cohen.
Initially the template looks the same. The handler thinks he has found the perfect con and it inadvertently destroys its existence seriously undermining his job and his relationship with his girlfriend. Despite the desire to follow the winning formula, the plot gradually emancipated, that is always good news. Up to culminate with a third and final act takes place where supper, giving a fall completely different.
Produced for the whole family, the tone here is a little less bad than the original version. This does not alter the cruel humor that arises from beginning to end. Despite some elk more dramatic (and emotional) that are supposed to provide some depth to the characters, laughter is abundant, appearing first with the care given to the aftershocks and situations, to sweep like a tornado that never seems to want’s stop. Suddenly, the strange and disturbing people multiply at the same rate as physical gags that usually fly.
Filmmaker talent (he has to “Austin Powers”) has achieved virtually nothing since the rout of comedy the heartbreaking “Meet the Fockers” in 2004, Jay Roach found his balance. His staging emphasizes effective in keeping pace and the image of his hilarious “Meet the Parents”, he has mastered the art of making worse the worst situations imaginable.
He is best able to form an electrifying chemistry with his actors. Steve Carell forget his usual “Date Night” by delivering a fiery performance. The actor is careful to never add too much, using improvisation and how to surprise and laughter to tears. At his side, Paul Rudd knows all too serious guy and he takes out his recipe but never on autopilot. The duo is also surrounded by a secondary distribution particularly well, where different interpreters (Zack Galifianakis, Jemaine Clement, Lucy Punch, Bruce Greenwood, etc. .) each have their moments of glory.
More childish and less memorable than the test Veber, “Dinner for Schmucks” nonetheless surprising adaptation, which includes many passages hilarious. Not only the object is not an exact copy of the earlier version, but the writers have managed to add 35 minutes (78 minutes to 113 minutes) without the cake would crumble or the lengths to be felt. A real feat, especially the radius of the U.S. comedy which is far from being in its golden age.
