Dinner for Depps

Dinner for Schmucks

Today's movie review is Dinner for Schmucks starring Paul Rudd (Clueless, Romeo & Juliet, Wet Hot American Summer), Steve Carell (Curley Sue, Even Almighty, The 40 Year-Old Virgin), Zack Galifianakis (Corky Romano, Reno 911, The Hangover), with smaller roles filled by Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords), Stephanie Szostak (The Devil Wears Prada), Lucy Punch (Hott Fuzz), and Ron Livingston (Swingers, Office Space). This is a remake/americanized version of a french film called Le dîner de cons (1998) which got great reviews in France when it debuted. I haven't seen the original but it is on my Netflix que, so look for that review later.

The movie is about Tim (Paul Rudd) the "stock broker" or something like that, who is given a chance to get a raise he's been yearning for. The only way he can obtain this raise is to come to a dinner, where he has to invite someone "unique" which really means a complete and utter idiot. Well, Tim runs into the perfect guy for the dinner in Barry (Steve Carell), who collects dead mice for his "mouseterpieces" and is a complete and utter idiot. Barry, the bumbling idiot, tries to help Tim with his love life, his professional life and is more then happy to attend said dinner; hilarity ensues.

Steve Carell steals the show. His take on this bumbling idiot is spectacular. There are so many small subtle things that he does that makes his lines and actions even funnier. Small facial expressions to questions or events that seem like they shouldn't be there are hilarious. The way he delivers his lines are great in the mind state of this bumbling idiot. Paul Rudd is really Paul Ruddish and doesn't really break out by any means, but drives the underlying story about Tim the "stock broker". The story is simple and to the point, Tim meets Barry, Barrys and idiot, Tim needs Barry to get a raise, Barry does dumb stuff. The story obviously is not really the selling point of the movie as much as it's Barry being a schmuck. A lot of the funny parts you've already seen in the previews but there are a few serious laugh out loud moments solely because of Steve Carell. However, somewhat new comer Lucy Punch steals a few mins as a crazy love struck stalker who can't get her mind off Tim. However she isn't getting the fact that Tim is married and she try's forcing her into his life, which makes for a really funny, highly awkward situation in the movie. The actual dinner scene lacked for me, but other scenes with Steve Carell were hilarious. Zack Galifianakis also steals a few mins but he's been funnier in other roles. I think this will be one of those movies that are funny but gets funnier after u see it 100 times, because you will because when its on Tv you won't turn it off.


With the poll I recently put up, "What's your favorite movie directed by Tim Burton", which didn't include A Nightmare before Christmas because he wrote and produced that not directed, made me realize that almost everyone of Burton's movies have Johnny Depp in it. So...

The Top 5 Movie Roles Johnny Depp played in (that I saw)

5) A Nightmare on Elm Street
Sorry Johnny, you look great alive, but even better when 10,000 gallons of blood come pouring out of your bed.

Ok, so maybe this isn't his greatest role, but its the one that got him started. A young hunk of man, put into a movie where he doesn't really need to act just know how to look pretty and get sucked into a bed that apparently eats you with its razor sharp teeth and spits out all of your blood and bones. Which I think is some other peoples bones and blood too, because man, that's alot.

4) Edward Scissorhands
Still looks great with all that makeup, hair, scars and, well, scissorhands.
If it wasn't Platoon that got him noticed, it was definitely this movie. People started seeing and hearing about Johnny Depp after this movie hit. He played a great eccentric outcast, who is innocent and ignorant to suburban America. Also, this is where he met his first wife, Winona Ryder, where he got a tattoo on his arm reading Winona for ever, which he then got turned into wino forever after the divorce. Guy must really love wine.

3) Pirates of the Caribbean
a mixture of Johnny Depp, Kieth Richards and Rum "...but why's all the rum gone?"
Ok the man looks great in anything, even filthy drunken dreads and AMAZING facial hair. This movie put this guy into the upper echelon of movie actors. Of course he had other great movies under his belt before this but this put some serious coin in his pocket and started a slew of Pirate movies with another one coming next summer. His wild portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow had so many people praising him saying he could really do anything from, serious and depressing (What's Eating Gilbert Grape) to bio pic (Blow) to goofy pirate who loves to swill rum and loot.

2) Blow
"George what do you know about...cocaine?"
Still a gorgeous hunk of man, even when he's all coked up, strung out, and puts on about 30 lbs. I'd say that this was kind of a revival for Johnny, as far as box office goes because he had a string of flops, The Astronauts Wife, Sleepy Hollow. Still good movies but not great. This revived the fact that this man can carry a movie. A great rise and fall story, and he kills this role.

1) Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
There is just a lot of stuff going on in this movie.
A great film adapted from a novel written by Hunter S. Thompson. Johnny Depp took this roll and ran with it. I almost want to say that he was on drugs during this movie he was that believeable. I feel like this movie is the epitome of Depp's goofier characters (regardless of the fact edward scissor hands came out first). Every character that is somewhat different later on in his career felt like it started from this roll. The chemistry between him and Benicio Del Toro was impeccable I think solely due to Depp. Great roll, great film.

So again these are the movies I've seen with Depp that I thought were his best. I know there are others I haven't seen so if u disagree or want to add a thought about it let me know.

Netflix Instant Watch of the Week: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. After doing the top 5 Johnny Depps, I figured this is flick some regular movie goers probably haven't seen. If you wanna see a wild drug/alcoholic induced adventure this is your flick. Rememebr if you see or have seen this movie let us know what you think.

Netflix DVD of the Week: WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRIORS...come out and PLAAAAAAAAAY! The Warriors. CAN YOU DIG IT! A cult classic about a a gang of guys called the warriors are blackmailed for killing the guy who was going to be responsible for Gang peace. Great late 70's early 80's (1979) cult film. A great watch for people who are fans of 70's and 80's cult classic films

Remember if you see, or have seen any of these movies let us
know what you think.

Little bit of movie news:

The Colonial Theater
I'm still getting ready to volunteer, but I'm still deciding what days, hours and positions I want to help out at. If your from the Phoenixville Area you should really check this place out, its an hardcore cinephiles dream. Indie films, foreign films, documentaries and classics all on the big screen. You can't see these at your regular movie theater so get up off your butt and pay only $8 to see these great films. Feature Film: Please Give, Classic Film: Monterey Pop

Unstoppable
So I'm not one to let a trailer totally influence me about how I think a movie will do. It does however have a small percentage of influence. This movie looks like its gonna be a keeper. Unstoppable features Denzel Washington (Glory, Richochet, Training Day), Chris Pine (The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Star Trek as Captain Kirk), Rosario Dawson (Josie and the Pussycats, The Adventures of Pluto Nash, Rent) and directed by Tony Scott (Top Gun, True Romance, Man on Fire). Its about an unstoppable train, check out the trailer at slashfilm.com http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/08/05/movie-trailer-tony-scotts-unstoppable/

Inglorious Basterd Nazi in new Spiderman??
Chritopher Waltz did an amazing job in The Inglorious Basterds, that got him a lot of acclaim and a lot of attention. Now seeing that he can be a really nefarious evil mother f'er he's beeing looked at for other films. He's due to play the villian in the new Green Hornet movie, but CinemaBlend.com says that Sony is interested in Waltz to be the main villian in the new "revamped" Spiderman. See the whole article at http://cinemablend.com/new/Hans-Landa-May-Fight-Spider-Man-20029.html

Entourage over??
Entourage is in its 7th season and CinemaBlend.com says it will have a shortened 8th season which will then be followed by a big screen film. I do love Entourage but the last few seasons have been lacking. I'm kind of weary about this one seeing as Sex and the City did the same thing and I heard it wasn't that great of a film, and then they went ahead and made a sequel. So good or bad idea? I'm guessing for creative quality a bad idea but to make a few $$$ good idea. See the full article at http://cinemablend.com/television/Entourage-To-Wrap-Up-And-Head-Off-To-The-Big-Screen-26212.html

OLD MOVIES. No such thing. Anything you haven’t seen is a new movie. -Steve Smyth http://www.stevesmyth.net/?p=795