MOVIE REVIEW - Dinner For Schmucks

He may be the most over exposed man in Hollywood right now, but here he comes again. Steve Carell in Dinner For Schmucks, a new comedy at the box office this week.

DFS is the story of Tim (Paul Rudd) who is working his way up in the investment house he is employed in. Trying to better himself so he can marry the woman of his dreams, Julie. In his haste to make it up the ladder, Tim finds out there is much fanny-kissing to be done, and he is willing to do about anything to make himself look better.

His boss and many others in this firm stage this dinner once a month at the bosses house. It is billed as a dinner for "extraordinary" people. But actually it's not. All are instructed to bring by an "idiot" so the rest of the "normal" people can make fun of them, and they even crown a monthly winner, with the idiots none the wiser. Does this sound fun? I guess it's possible, but it's not here. Tim's moron is Barry (Carell). Barry is a real strange guy who can't get a clue and can't do a thing right. Will he win? That's DFS.

First, there are some laughs. A few out loud laughs too. But they are way too few and far between. The semi full theater broke up a few times, but this is not really all that funny. Carell at times is creative, and so is Rudd. But to be honest, Carell has done about everything funny on screen he's ever going to do that's funny. Sort of pathetic. When Jim Carrey was in his hey day, it was kind of funny. But even Carrey has grown up and understood that you can't be "that guy" forever. Carell doesn't need anymore money, but he does need to get a clue. It's old and tired. Overall too, the script is weak and the idea is more like a Saturday Night Live bit, as opposed to a two hour flick.

Two hours is entirely too long here. Some of the scenes designed for big laughs, have none, and at the movies end, it becomes very mean spirited and off track. Offensive to many even. Sad part is there are a few times this movie could have grown a heart and been better than just a sophomoric slime fest. But it can't resist. There could have been a different outcome here that would have been much better. As it is, it's just weak and over all just not funny.

Dinner For Schmucks. This dinner doesn't go down very easy, and for some may even come back up. Pass on it. Overall disappointing.