"It's this, or Grown Ups". I show a trailer for Dinner For Schmucks to my companions, wondering whether they will approve. "Looks silly." I hear one say, and immediately Adam Sandler's comedy hit Grown Ups (4/5) takes the lead whilst we are in the U.S. I vowed to watch Dinner For Schmucks, then, upon its release in the UK, and though it certainly didn't feel like a wasted journey, the overall result was a little less than I might have expected. Lead Paul Rudd simply isn't that likeable a protagonist for such a large-scale comedy with a fair few big names (Steve Carell, David Walliams and Zach "Alan in The Hangover" Galifinikas being just a few, though sadly the latter names only get minor cameos), detracting from much of the humour on offer here. In addition, idiot Barry's dead-mice collecting hobby is just plain creepy, and it made this reviewer wonder why something even more idiotic wasn't chosen. On the bright side, though, Carrel's Barry is a wholly more loveable character, easily gaining empathy from the audience in his final on-screen scenes, and becoming the more central focus as Dinner For Schmucks progresses. The aformentioned Dinner does take its damn time starting, which definitely will get criticism from viewers, but when it does actually begin then all havoc provokes, to the enjoyment of adult and child alike. Adam Sandler gets the upper hand, sadly, on the summer comedy race, simply because Grown Up's plot has less holes to pick at and a better all-round cast.
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