Dinner For Schmucks (1/4/11)

PG-13 for sequences of crude and sexual content, some partial nudity and language.

Directed by Jay Roach (Meet the Parents and the Austin Powers Franchise)

Starring Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Stephanie Szostak, Bruce Greenwood, Ron Livingston and Zach Galifianakis

If you walk out of this movie and your face and/or sides don’t hurt, then I’m not sure we can be friends.

Tim (Paul Rudd) is an ambitious executive on the verge of having it all. The only thing standing between him and his dream job is finding the perfect guest to bring to his boss' dinner party. This exclusive, yet unusually mean-spirited event is a game where each of the high-powered executives brings a guest (or an idiot) to make fun of. Enter Barry (Steve Carell), a sweet but dim-witted IRS agent with an unusual hobby: he creates elaborate dioramas featuring stuffed mice. 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 new acquaintance is so much more that an bumbling idiot.

Simply put, this movie is Hilarious!

In my opinion, Steve Carell has dethroned Will Ferrell as the funniest man on the planet (and Zach Galifianakis is a close second). Whenever he is the mild manner husband in Date Night or the impossible boss on The Office or a dim-witted IRS agent who stuffs mice for fun, he makes me laugh. And he made me laugh so hard in Dinner for Schmucks it actually hurt.

Now I know some people will get upset saying this movie is mean spirited and encourages bullying. First of all, the movie is fiction and these people aren’t real. Secondly if this movie really offended you…maybe you would like to come over for dinner?

What? Too soon?

OK OK I’m sorry.

Seriously, let’s get back to the review. I judge comedies on pretty much one thing…did the movie make me laugh. So stop waiting for me to discuss cinematography or music score. What I will tell you is the “normal” characters are very normal and believable and the “schmucks” are so over the top I’m still laughing about their behavior.

The truth of the matter is this film is all about asking the questions, “How far will you go to get ahead?” and “What is the meaning of friendship?” I loved the moral dilemma Paul Rudd’s character finds himself in and the journey he goes on. I honestly believe that knowing I would never do what he did, allowed me to see the humor in all the ridiculousness. So if you can walk in and sit down knowing that no was harmed during the filming of this movie then I think you will really enjoy it too.

It’s a Theater Worthy one for me!

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
They definitely cross a few lines in this one and some jokes go way too far. Like when Tim’s ex-girlfriend shows up in a computer chat window and then shows up at his house. Or when another character (the very eccentric artist) is wearing patches or animal fur and the women with him are wearing just a few feathers.

Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):

Q: What was the theme (or the message) of this movie?

A: This movie is all about powerful people making fun of others who they consider “different” or “less than themselves.” But this funny plot has a lot to say about loyalty to friends, and integrity. Very few people have loyalty…or integrity.

Q: How should we – as serious Christ-followers — react to this movie?

For starters, we should reject the idea of using and manipulating others for personal gain or to get ahead. That is an unmerciful trampling of the human spirit, and it causes pain and suffering in people’s lives.

We saw Tim struggle with what to do with Barry; would he use Barry to get ahead or not? He knew what he should do, but he didn’t know what he would do. From Barry’s perspective, he simply thought he was helping out a new friend. All the while, Tim was plotting to use him and discard him.

There are plenty of people that the world despises: the weak, the poor, the obnoxious, the disabled, the needy, the sinful, the different, etc. You name it, there are Tims out there. The Apostle Paul tells us how to interact with them in Romans 15:1-7.

1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

If we happen to be stronger, we should use that strength to help others. If at all possible, we must lift up others. Finally, we are to accept others to please God.

Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?

A: For starters, we must love and serve the people God has placed around us…even if they are different than us. Under no circumstances has God given us permission to spitefully use or mistreat others. But simply not engaging in that sort of wicked behavior is not enough….

On any given day, many of us see people being used, mistreated, or bullied. In one way or another, we see people being taken advantage of. In each of these situations, we have the opportunity – and the obligation – to stand up and speak out against the mistreatment of others. Not only must we not mistreat others, but we have to stop others from doing it, as well.