DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS

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Great comic pairings don't come along often. Yet, Steve Carell and Paul Rudd strike a snappy chemistry as straight man Tim Conrad (Rudd) to funnyman Barry Speck (Carell) in this adaptation of Francis Veber's "Le Diner du Cons" (1998).

Ambitious Tim keeps proposing to his affectionate girlfriend Julie (Stephanie Szostak) when he isn't trying to advance his position at the private equity firm where he works. Lightening strikes when Tim daringly pitches a client idea at a meeting overseen by company president Lance Fender (Bruce Greenwood).

Lance dangles a corner office as a carrot for Tim if he can deliver the promised million-dollar-deal client, and bring a suitably dopey schmuck to the company's monthly parlor-game-disguised-as-private-dinner. For the dinner Fender and his associates meet at his mansion where several have invited the most idiotic person they could find.

You've heard of "blaming the victim," well here's a concealed contest that's more along the lines of "humiliate the geek." Entering Tim's random world of economic high hopes, is mouse-taxidermist-artist-extraordinaire Barry Speck, who attaches himself to Tim like a tic on a dog.

Steve Carell's dentally altered character walks a fine line between innocent ignorance and malicious intent as he accidentally but systematically upends Tim's precarious life. Here's one Hollywood comedy that actually makes you laugh.

Rated PG-13. 114 mins.