‘Schmucks’ funny, but not a classic

Sometimes in order to move ahead, you have to take a step back. Steve Carell takes this advice by going back to basics in this week’s flick “Dinner for Schmucks.”

Carell came into the national spotlight via Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show.” His perfection of the classic unaware fool led to a supporting role in “Bruce Almighty,” which gave us one of the funniest 60 seconds of film ever made. One only has to watch Carell being controlled by Jim Carrey’s “Bruce” to see the genius of Carell’s comedic abilities. Carell brought that same level of foolish intensity to “Anchorman,” consistently upstaging his costars throughout that gem. It was, however, “The 40 Year Old Virgin” that resonated with most of the free world thus propelling him into the limelight. Gone was the classic fool, and in his place stood the sweet, yet socially inept, Andy. By channeling portions of these two characters, we are graced with the walking disaster of human being known as Barry Speck in “Schmucks.”

In an effort to climb the company ladder, analyst Tim (Paul Rudd) seizes an opportunity to wow the boss, Lance Fender (Bruce Greenwood). This garners him an invite to a very special dinner. Once a month his boss and the upper management hold a dinner with a most unique theme. Each invitee tries to one up the others by bringing the most amazingly idiotic individual they can find to compete for that month’s trophy. One accident later, Tim has met the human dynamo of destruction Barry, and he can taste victory and a promotion.

The flip side to Tim’s seemingly great day is the sole reason behind his motivation for the promotion: girlfriend Julie (Stephanie Szostak). His desire to live up to what he feels she deserves causes much anxiety for Tim. After explaining the dinner to Julie, and glimpsing her revulsion with the thought, Tim is faced with a true dilemma. This moral quandary is the burden carried by Rudd’s character throughout the film. It allows him to be his delightfully non-threatening self — and to also be the necessary straight man to Carell’s Barry.

Joining Rudd and Carell is a healthy smattering of other comics as well. Fellow “Daily Show” alum Larry Wilmore, Ron Livingston, Jeff Dunham and Octavia Spencer all provide moments of levity. It is, however, the work of Zach Galifianakis’ Therman the IRS agent/mentalist, Lucy Punch as Tim’s obsessed ex-Darla and Jemaine Clement of “Flight of the Conchords” as the sensually lecherous artist Kieran that helps define the film.

And what exactly is that definition?

The film is great collection of genuinely funny moments sandwiched around and hour and a half of drolling filler. Carell gives a performance on par with some of the finest outlandish comedic roles in history including Steve Martin’s “The Jerk.” It is his ability to channel that sweet, disastrous buffoon that carries the majority of the film and delivers the most laughs. Sadly, it is never enough to hurl it over the top into the realm of classic. Ultimately it could be argued that the film suffered from trying to attract a more diverse crowd with the PG-13 rating. This is the element that could have put the film over the top. What it lacked was some of the mature gags that writer’s such as Judd Apatow are placing in their contemporary works. It ends up coming off as a slightly dirty joke at a teen’s sweet 16 party. While one would not be a schmuck for shelling out the money to see this film, there is no guarantee that you won’t feel like one afterwards.

And that would be a raw deal, especially without the dinner.

Rating: W W 1/2