Comedy Peaking
Last night I pulled in a double header - Toy Story 3 in 3D & Dinner for Schmucks.
Steve Carell was at his best. When playing a clueless character, Carell is brilliant at being grounded and convincing and yet additionally pulling off a sympathetic character. He does it in The Office, he did it to a good degree in Anchorman, and he does it so so well in Dinner for Schmucks. Paul Rudd does what he does best in this film as well: The guy who is blinded by himself who only in the end, through learning from someone else, learns the error of his ways and both redeems himself and gets the girl (Role Models, I Love You Man, etc.). He does it well, again and again.
Add in a brilliant ensemble cast of Ron Livingston, Zach Galifianakis, Jemaine Clement,and the rest of the cast, and you have a wholly awkward and enjoyable comedy. My only one negative is I did not like one of the smaller roles casting, but the movie as a whole had me in awe, laughing, trying to hide in my seat, and yelling “Ohhh!” a couple of times.
Thank you comedies, for existing.
