The Dinner Game (Le Dîner de cons)

The Dinner Game (Le Dîner de cons) (1998)

  • 73% of critics liked it
    (45 reviews)

  • 89% of users liked it
    (19,297 ratings)

Francis Veber wrote and directed this film adaptation (with animated opening credits) of his own play, Le diner de cons, about a competition among a group of friends to see who can find the stupidest person to bring to dinner (as indicated by the original French title, since "con" means… More

Play Trailer

PG-13,
Directed By
Written By
Francis Veber
Genres
Drama, Art House & International, Comedy
In Theaters
Jul 16, 1999 Limited
Lions Gate Films Inc.

Critic Reviews

  • Lisa Nesselson, Variety

    Weaves a simple premise into comedy gold.

  • Andrea C. Basora, Newsweek

    Despite the stagey set-up (it was originally conceived as a play and it shows), the film manages to maintain its humor and energy until the final scene in which Veber suddenly casts aside his delightful meanspiritedness and gets soft-hearted and preachy.

  • Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader

    Some realist nuances in the characters' behavior become more intriguing than the belabored humor.

  • Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

    A sip of sparkling champagne in a moviegoing summer of mostly cheap red wine for teenage winos.

  • , Time Out

    The leads fill out their archetypes comfortably, the timing's well pitched, and the narrative moves busily enough. Cinematically, though, there's little of interest.

Read all 14 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

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

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Jeff "


    A smart idea for a film is plagued by a poorly written script that is dull, uninteresting. Le Diner de cons could have been a great film, and it might have looked good on paper, but the on-screen result is that of a film that is unfocused, with poor attempt at humor, and yes, I do get… More

  • Anthony L


    Le Dîner de Cons is clever, well written and mildly amusing but not hilarious. The script is very sharp and the delivery is brilliant when it comes to the late great Jacques Villeret and Daniel Prévost but ultimately the whole film is let down by the bland performances and awkward… More

  • Luke B


    Wonderfully simple, but emotionally engaging comedy. The film takes its audience on a wonderful journey as we start feeling very sorry for Villeret. The film is very cruel towards him at first. He's just a sweet, naive man looking for some acceptance. He soon turns into the guest… More

  • Mark H


    Minor French farce is a mistitled little ditty about a about a competition amongst a group of businessmen to see who can find the stupidest person to bring to dinner. The problem is that they never attend said dinner party, which undoubtedly would have been ripe for comedy. Instead… More

  • El Hombre I


    The Dinner Game plays out with all the spontaneity of a Seinfeld episode and would be even more popular if people will get over reading subtitles. A very clever comedy that was a successful play before it became a film, as it shows, and is a great one for low-budget filmmakers to… More

Read all 14 featured audience ratings

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Cast

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