Dinner for Schmucks (2010)
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A rising executive must find a suitable 'idiot' to bring to a mocking dinner party to secure a promotion.
The story
Tim Conrad, a rising executive, discovers that his superiors host a dinner party where they mock guests for their perceived idiocy. To earn a promotion and glory, Tim is tasked with bringing an eccentric person with a special talent to the event. While his girlfriend, Julie, is offended by the cruel premise, Tim eventually meets Barry Speck, a man with bizarre behaviors and a talent for creating 'Mousterpieces' out of dead mice. Realizing Barry is the perfect candidate for the dinner, Tim navigates a series of comedic mishaps involving Barry's eccentricities and a jealous ex-girlfriend while trying to secure his professional advancement.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Tim Conrad is offered a promotion by his boss, Lance Fender, contingent on him bringing an eccentric 'idiot' to a dinner party where the executives mock their guests. Tim's girlfriend, Julie, is horrified by the plan. However, after Tim accidentally hits Barry Speck with his car, he discovers Barry's bizarre 'Mousterpieces' and decides he is the perfect guest. The plan is complicated when Barry accidentally invites a pro wrestler named Darla, who is obsessed with Tim, and when Julie leaves Tim believing he is cheating. Tim and Barry navigate several mishaps, including a strange encounter with Therman Murche, a man claiming to have mind control powers. At the dinner, Barry's antics are a hit, but Therman arrives to embarrass him. Tim eventually helps Barry defeat Therman using 'brain control.' After a chaotic brawl breaks out among the guests and executives—resulting in a mansion fire and a lost finger—Tim is fired. He eventually reconciles with Julie with Barry's help. In the end, Tim is hired by Mueller, and Barry creates a statue of Mueller's lost finger.
- First release year
- 2010
- Runtime (minutes)
- 114
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jay Roach
- Writers
- David Guion · screenplay; Michael Handelman · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Steve Carell · Barry Speck; Paul Rudd · Tim Conrad; Zach Galifianakis; Jemaine Clement; Jeff Dunham; Bruce Greenwood; Ron Livingston
- Genres
- comedy; screwball comedy; slapstick comedy
- Themes
- social hierarchy; mockery; friendship; loyalty
- Tone and mood
- comedic; chaotic; screwball
- Premise and plot tags
- remake; comedy; dinner party; promotion
- Source material / true-story basis
- Francis Veber's 1998 French film Le Dîner de Cons
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews, with a 42% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 56/100 score on Metacritic. Audiences gave it a 'B' grade on CinemaScore.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 42% · review count: 191; Metacritic · score: 56 · scale: 100 · review count: 37; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Satellite Award · Best Actor · 2010 · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The dinner scene was filmed at the same location used for Wayne Manor in the 1960s Batman TV series.; The title's usage of 'schmucks' was debated due to its literal meaning as a vulgar term for a penis.; The film was pushed back a week to July 30, 2010, to avoid competition with Salt and Inception.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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