Dinner for Schmucks (2010)

43% of critics liked it
(183 reviews)
46% of users liked it
(111,441 ratings)

An ambitious executive accepts an invitation from his boss to attend a dinner party where high-powered professionals make fun of unsuspecting dimwits in this remake of Francis Veber's 1998 comedy The Dinner Game. Upwardly mobile executive Tim (Paul Rudd) has just landed his company an extremely… More An ambitious executive accepts an invitation from his boss to attend a dinner party where high-powered professionals make fun of unsuspecting dimwits in this remake of Francis Veber's 1998 comedy The Dinner Game. Upwardly mobile executive Tim (Paul Rudd) has just landed his company an extremely wealthy Swiss client when his boss, Lance (Bruce Greenwood), invites him to an exclusive, yet unusually mean-spirited dinner party where each of the high-powered executives brings a guest to make fun of. Recognizing that his long-awaited promotion is finally within reach, Tim begins to have second thoughts about participating in the elaborate charade when his longtime girlfriend, Julie (Stephanie Szostak), the successful curator at a local art gallery, voices intense disdain for the idea. The following day, Tim is looking for a way out of the dinner when fate throws the perfect guest right in front of his luxury car. Barry (Steve Carell) is a sweet but dim-witted IRS agent with an unusual hobby: he creates elaborate dioramas featuring stuffed mice. His latest project is "The Last Supper," and he's just put the finishing touches on a tiny mouse Jesus to set at the center of the table. Tim knows that Barry is his ticket to a big corner office on the seventh floor, but the closer the party looms, the more he realizes that his bumbling new acquaintance isn't just an idiot, but also is a magnet for chaos. ~ Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 53 min.
Directed By: Jay Roach
Written By: Andy Borowitz, Ken Daurio, David Guion, Jon Vitti
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 30, 2010 Wide
On DVD: Jan 4, 2011
Studio: Paramount Studios

Critic Reviews

Joe Baltake, Passionate Moviegoer
'Dinner for Schmucks': Good Movie, Bad Title
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
The movie has a slew of goofball moments that don't add up to a consistently hilarious outing.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
With moments of fitful hilarity, the pairing of Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and a talented cast of secondary actors, there's plenty here to keep summer comedy fans satiated, if not entirely satisfied.
Tom Long, Detroit News
Pure, tasteless slapstick silliness with little on its mind beyond cheap yuks.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
Dinner for Schmucks may be as broad as the proverbial groaning board, but Rudd and Carell bring out its most toothsome delights.
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
Veber's comic conceit, which stopped short of actually showing the dinner, doesn't really cross the Atlantic intact.
Greg Maki, Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
The real schmucks are the people responsible for this movie.
Dave White, Movies.com
The movie suffers by stifling the [Rudd's] natural comic ability and no one comes away from it fully satisfied.
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald
You know you're in trouble when the best thing in your movie is a bunch of dead rodents.
R. L. Shaffer, IGN DVD
Occasionally quite funny, and oddly relevant to the nature of our culture, but this dinner is a little underwhelming.
Chris Cabin, Slant Magazine
Overflowing with talented performers, Dinner for Schmucks sadly remains beholden to stiff structure and unimaginative narrative turns from the get-go.
Kam Williams, NewsBlaze
A mediocre sitcom serving up a half-baked, TV dinner. Check please!
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
Carell, who switches it up from The Office's malevolent honcho to mocked nine to five underling, is the occasional best thing going here. Which tends to feature on this particular Moron Who Came To Dinner menu, items of predominantly bad taste.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...has a couple of good moments, but for the most part it goes downhill after the first half hour. (Blu-ray Edition)
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
While it has a few humorous moments, the characters are either so bizarre or so stereotyped and the tone so changeable, it's hard to like the movie as a whole.
Richard Knight, Knight at the Movies
Not quite the four star comedic meal it promises at the outset, Dinner for Schmucks makes for a tasty repast, nonetheless.
Simon Miraudo, Quickflix
Should anyone ever be unfortunate enough to break bread with their characters in Dinner For Schmucks, you'd likely commit seppuku with your butter knife before the entrées had even been cleared from the table.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
There's a little more going on in it than you might expect from a summer comedy starring Steve Carell and Paul Rudd.
Tim Martain, The Mercury
Dinner for Schmucks might start out as an exercise in laughing at idiots but it turns into something much more rewarding.
James Croot, Flicks.co.nz
Provides a great showcase for Carell's brand of deadpan nuttiness.

Read all 23 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Nicki M

I think this is rating so highly with me because I just loved all the little stuffed mice dressed up and put in poses! (What can I say, I am a little twisted!). This wasn't bad, for a movie I never set out to watch, I was pleasantly surprised by it. Yes, it's a bit silly,… More
I think this is rating so highly with me because I just loved all the little stuffed mice dressed up and put in poses! (What can I say, I am a little twisted!). This wasn't bad, for a movie I never set out to watch, I was pleasantly surprised by it. Yes, it's a bit silly, but it has a good cast and just for something easy to watch with a few laughs, I couldn't fault it. Steve Carell definitely works better in this kind of comedy than trying to pull of romantics leads (i.e. Dan in Real Life) while Paul Rudd is funny, but straight faced enough through this to offset Steve's over the top dork (who is still kind of likeable and sympathetic). Also good was Lucy Punch as Darla and Stephanie Szostak as Julie. Zach Galifanakis and Jemaine Clement were both total put offs, but as that was their characters, I would say it was a good thing!
Albert K

"Dinner for Schmucks" takes a crap all over your idea of absurd and brings it to a whole 'nother level. It's ruthless, frustrating, and not very funny. Paul Rudd and Steve Carrell back in a movie together? Sounds great. But what the movie delivers is an average… More
"Dinner for Schmucks" takes a crap all over your idea of absurd and brings it to a whole 'nother level. It's ruthless, frustrating, and not very funny. Paul Rudd and Steve Carrell back in a movie together? Sounds great. But what the movie delivers is an average script that never goes beyond usual chuckles. The characters? Way, way, way too over-the-top that questions audiences whether the characters are mentally-ill or mentally challenged. Way too much slapstick that would only entertain those 11 years old and younger. In the end, the movie is tightly wound together to bring a cohesive movie but not a very cohesive comedy. I'm not gonna lie; there were some hilarious lines here and there, but not enough to completely ground "Dinner for Schmucks" as a comedy.
Dead A

Steve Carrell's character was a bit too much I guess. I mean seriously? You'll jump in front of a car for a dead mouse? I did laughed few times but I expected more from him. He's one of my fave comedy actor.
Emily A

This movie is a lot of fun, and it's interesting to see a film peopled with characters that are both cartoonish but grounded with a great deal of humanity. Barry isn't simply a one-dimensional, obnoxious doofus; He actually really cares about his friends and feels pain very… More
This movie is a lot of fun, and it's interesting to see a film peopled with characters that are both cartoonish but grounded with a great deal of humanity. Barry isn't simply a one-dimensional, obnoxious doofus; He actually really cares about his friends and feels pain very acutely when he's rejected. The villains in this movie are bad people the way real people are bad: they glory in making fun of others and tearing them down, and are persistently petty, snide and negative. Tim's desire to be part of thier world is what made him a bad person originally, and his character arch is actually a real pleasure to watch. It's refreshing in this movie, which is at times really mean-spirited. There are also times where the farcical narrative trips over its own zany chaos and devolves into a huge mess, but it's the characters that keep it together and keep you watching. This movie is fun, but I wouldn't put it with my classic comedies.
Michael G

Quite disappointing. Once the first fifteen minutes fill you in as to what's going on you can figure out where Dinner for Schmucks is going to land. It's got plenty of the awkward humor that Steve Carell patented on The Office and I actually caught myself laughing gout loud… More
Quite disappointing. Once the first fifteen minutes fill you in as to what's going on you can figure out where Dinner for Schmucks is going to land. It's got plenty of the awkward humor that Steve Carell patented on The Office and I actually caught myself laughing gout loud at at a few points but between the predictability and the anticlimactic supporting roles from Jermaine Clement, Zach Galifianakis, Jeff Dunham and the like, I could barely bring myself to finish it.
Matt G

Had so much potential, but director Jay Roach made it a slow moving comedy. It has it's moments, but overall fails as a movie. Steve Carell and Paul Rudd are a good bromance though. I honestly had high expectations for this one, and was disappointed up until the last 35 minutes.… More
Had so much potential, but director Jay Roach made it a slow moving comedy. It has it's moments, but overall fails as a movie. Steve Carell and Paul Rudd are a good bromance though. I honestly had high expectations for this one, and was disappointed up until the last 35 minutes. The title of this movie shouldn't be called Dinner for Schmucks, it should be called "Guy Who Runs in Front of a Car to Save a Mouse." The only reason I'm giving this movie three stars, is because of the dinner. It was hilarious, and contains so many memorable quotes. For example: Barry: I know that you take a magic marker and draw a little face on your penis. Therman: Is that against the law? I don't think so. Barry: And you put a little hat on it. And you call it Sammy. Therman: Nobody is supposed to know that! Barry: And you sing to it... (sings) Dinner for Schmucks is responsible for Little Fockers being so bad. If Jay Roach (Austin Powers, Bruno, Meet The Parents/ Fockers) wasn't so busy working on Schmucks, then he would be directing Fockers. It's a Jay Roach directed comedy, so you can't expect the acting to be amazing. Paul Rudd plays the exact same person he is in every role and Steve Carell is downright hilarious. The movie also stars Larry Wilmore (The Office), Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Concords), Zach Galifianakis (Due Date), Stephanie Szostak, Bruce Greenwood, and Ron Livingston. There are also many cameos from comedians at the dinner scene. Honestly, the only reason I'm even mentioning the music, is because it was so bad. For example, when two people are having a heart-heart conversation, they put the most inappropriate music on! I don't know what they were thinking... Character development is something that was left out. Unfortunate, for you Mr. Roach. You aren't supposed to wait till the end to find out what's actually wrong with the character. The first 45 minutes are so painful to watch you might want to sleep through it. When the dinner scene starts, your glad you rented it. It's definitely worth a one time watch!
Michael S

A mostly unfunny remake that has it's moments; but seems to go on forever. Paul Rudd and Steve Carell are two of the most reliable comedic actors around, and they do what they can with the material at hand. Worth a chuckle or two, but not much else.
Brad W

Funny and smart, Carell rocks. The plot may be absoloutely pointless, but you tell me many comedies that have a real plot now a days. The acting was great, really brings out the great duo that is Carell and Rudd. I laughed so hard at this movie you would not believe, so youll be… More
Funny and smart, Carell rocks. The plot may be absoloutely pointless, but you tell me many comedies that have a real plot now a days. The acting was great, really brings out the great duo that is Carell and Rudd. I laughed so hard at this movie you would not believe, so youll be happy with the humor. Now what is wrong with the movie is that the greatest scenes are saved for the dinner, which I wished the best scenes were throughout the movie. Also nere the end there are so many freaks and crazy people in real life Carrell character would never have won against those freaks, but yet he does. Now the show stealer here is Carrell, but it may have been taken by Zach Galifinakas, because i laughed most when he was on screen. I recommend this movie, and I thought it was funny.
Tim S

I have to admit, I laughed more than I thought I would. Carell, Clement, and Galifinakis have some great moments and the dinner itself is hilarious. It's just a shame the rest of the plot is played out.
Film C

I guiltily enjoy this movie. Its a stupid and very simple movie, but i also find it extremely funny and amusing. I thought Steve Carrell was a fantasitc weirdo simpleton and he was very funny! I really liked the cast as well, as i love bruce greenwood. I thought it was amusing… More
I guiltily enjoy this movie. Its a stupid and very simple movie, but i also find it extremely funny and amusing. I thought Steve Carrell was a fantasitc weirdo simpleton and he was very funny! I really liked the cast as well, as i love bruce greenwood. I thought it was amusing throughout, and although Zach Galifianakis is cringy he is extremely and weirdly amusing, I think if your want a simple amusing movie, that will just lighten the mood and make you happy then this is a movie to watch!
Sanjay R

Having no real story hurts this movie, but it is extremely funny. Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd are a good pair and make this movie one of the funniest of the year.
Curtis L

Another train wreck movie, but Zach Galifanakis and Jemaine Clement made it worth watching. The main characters were okay, but pretty run of the mill comedy. The mice art was the best part.
♥˩ƳИИ &

Cast: Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis, Jemaine Clement, Stephanie Szostak, Lucy Punch, Bruce Greenwood, David Walliams, Ron Livingston Director: Jay Roach Summary: Tim Conrad's (Paul Rudd) boss hosts a dinner party where he invites his friends to bring along the… More
Cast: Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis, Jemaine Clement, Stephanie Szostak, Lucy Punch, Bruce Greenwood, David Walliams, Ron Livingston Director: Jay Roach Summary: Tim Conrad's (Paul Rudd) boss hosts a dinner party where he invites his friends to bring along the saddest, most pathetic loser they can find. But when the ultimate schmuck (Steve Carell) arrives, his actions somehow turn everyone else into the losers. An adaptation of the French comedy The Dinner Game. My Thoughts: "A nice little comedy with a good message. I adore Paul Rudd and I think he is really funny, and there is no denying that Steve Carell is a funny man as well. Not as funny as I had thought it would be, but definitely made me smile and laugh out loud a few times. The relationship between Barry and Tim ends up being pretty sweet. Worth the rental."
Nate Z

Oh man was this thing just painfully unfunny on all levels. It's an American remake of a fairly funny French film and it stars Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd, two actors that have to work really hard not to be funny. Well they found a way. Talk about a bunch of schmucks. Every… More
Oh man was this thing just painfully unfunny on all levels. It's an American remake of a fairly funny French film and it stars Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd, two actors that have to work really hard not to be funny. Well they found a way. Talk about a bunch of schmucks. Every single character is a world-class idiot that behaves in a manner that 1) isn't remotely relatable and 2) isn't funny. It's all yelling and raised eyebrows and exclamation points in place of setups and payoffs. Even worse, it tries to force a horrendously false saccharine feel-good message, a comedic "believe in yourself" sort of moralizing that says, "They aren't the freaks, we are." No, you all are freaks. The film confuses situations that are weird, uncomfortable, and just plain unlikely with comedy, which doesn't work without some careful context and setup. Watching this nonstop leaden buffoonery makes you hang your head and sigh. This makes Three's Company look like enlightened comedy. The movie also features Jeff Dunham doing his wacky puppets. This cinematic stick in the eye comes across as an obnoxiously unyielding comedy that doesn't know when to stop, how to start, or what to do in between. Nate's Grade: C-
Derek D

Good acting and humor, but the film just kinda dragged and wasn't as funny as I thought it would be. Not a wash or anything, the movie is definitely worth watching but funnier films have been released recently. Steve Carrell is classic in this one.
MisterYoda ?

three stars
Kalel J

Grossly unfunny and flatly annoying, 'Dinner for Schmucks' is silliness pushed to an extreme and humour void of wit, charm, or fun. This is a terrible way to spend your time, and clocking in at a bulking two hours - this is a long time to spend in the company of idiocy. The… More
Grossly unfunny and flatly annoying, 'Dinner for Schmucks' is silliness pushed to an extreme and humour void of wit, charm, or fun. This is a terrible way to spend your time, and clocking in at a bulking two hours - this is a long time to spend in the company of idiocy. The issue with this film is that it is about idiots and is ultimately idiotic in its own rights. Its characters are frustrating, its plot is tawdry, and its ambitions are questionable. With over-the-top people gallivanting through an absurd scene of events - how could this be considered comedy? 'Dinner for Schmucks' is an overly long, unfunny attempt at physical comedy and silly antics. It is annoying to sit through, and has very little redeeming qualities. If it wasn't for Jemaine Clement's attempts at masking Steve Carrell's show of foolishness, this film could have been even worse.
Sanjaya &

Well, it turns out not as funny as I thought before but I still had some good laugh... The story wasn't that comedy because it got me a lot of thinking not to laugh on another people's disabilty, Steve Carell as Barry was great even though he wasn't that funny...… More
Well, it turns out not as funny as I thought before but I still had some good laugh... The story wasn't that comedy because it got me a lot of thinking not to laugh on another people's disabilty, Steve Carell as Barry was great even though he wasn't that funny... Luckily his chemistry with Paul Rudd did well I thought and it saved the movie... The main question is how can you named this movie 'Dinner For Schmucks" while the scene where the dinner for schmucks just run for less than 30 minutes???
Summer W

Meh. I gave it a shot because of the cast, and despite a few laughs, it's predictable and awkward. Steve Carell is impressive as the lovable idiot, but he can't make it a great film.
Cynthia S

This was pretty funny, at times. I was entertained, for the most part. However, it doesn't provide anything too special that makes it stand out. The moral of "don't laugh at people because they're different" is thrown away, because the movie asks us to laugh… More
This was pretty funny, at times. I was entertained, for the most part. However, it doesn't provide anything too special that makes it stand out. The moral of "don't laugh at people because they're different" is thrown away, because the movie asks us to laugh at these people all along. Steve Carrell gives his all as one of the schmucks, and Paul Rudd is funny as the hungry-to-succeed business guy who learns his lesson. It's a decent watch.