Dinner for Schmucks

Tim Conrad, a rising executive at a financial firm, faces an unusual career dilemma. His boss hosts a monthly dinner where executives compete to bring the most ridiculous guest, and the winner gets a promotion. Tim wants no part of it, but a chance encounter with Barry, a sweet-natured but socially disastrous IRS employee who creates dioramas from stuffed mice, changes everything. Directed by Jay Roach (Austin Powers, Meet the Parents), this 2010 comedy stars Paul Rudd as Tim and Steve Carell as Barry, with Stephanie Szostak, Jemaine Clement, and Zach Galifianakis in supporting roles.

The film is a remake of the 1998 French comedy Le Dîner de Cons, written and directed by Francis Veber. Roach's version was penned by David Guion and Michael Handelman, with Jon Vitti also contributing. Produced on a $69 million budget, it grossed $86 million worldwide, a modest return that reflected its mixed critical reception. Critics praised Carell's committed performance but found the tone uneven, swinging between slapstick and sentiment. The film has since gained a cult following, with many appreciating its absurdist humor and the chemistry between Rudd and Carell. [edit]

Tim Conrad (Paul Rudd) is on the fast track at a Los Angeles financial firm, with a beautiful girlfriend, Julie (Stephanie Szostak), and a promising career. His boss, Lance Fender (Bruce Greenwood), reveals the company's tradition: a monthly dinner where executives bring the most eccentric guest they can find, and the winner gets a significant career boost. Tim initially refuses to participate, but after a coworker is fired, he reluctantly agrees to play the game.

Tim's life takes a chaotic turn when he accidentally rear-ends Barry Speck (Steve Carell), a kind-hearted IRS employee who builds elaborate dioramas featuring taxidermied mice reenacting historical scenes. Barry, oblivious to his own social ineptitude, latches onto Tim as a friend and begins to wreak havoc on Tim's professional and personal life. Meanwhile, Tim's rival, Kieran Vollard (Jemaine Clement), plans to bring Therman (Zach Galifianakis), a self-proclaimed mind-control expert, to the dinner.

As the dinner approaches, Tim finds himself increasingly entangled in Barry's world. Barry shows up uninvited at Tim's office, meets Julie, and offers disastrous relationship advice. He also introduces Tim to his volatile friend Darla (Lucy Punch), who believes Barry is her boyfriend. Tim struggles with his conscience as he genuinely likes Barry and questions the morality of humiliating him for career gain. The tension builds as the dinner date nears, and Tim must decide whether to go through with the cruel plan or stand up for his new friend.[edit]