Dinner for Schmucks (2010)

I reviewed Jeff Dunham's filmography, and it listed that he made a movie, Dinner with Schmucks.  It also listed that he had a dummy called Diane, which I had never seen, but that dummy was said to appear in this film.  As I began to watch the film, I recall seeing Jeff Dunham's name in the opening credits, leading me to believe he played a significant role in this film.  I was mislead.

Jeff (himself) doesn't even speak in this film, and his dummy Dianne only has about 2 lines.  Not only that, but Jeff and much more prominently his dummy only have a few seconds of screen time, mostly as background characters, making their appearance in this film completely insignificant.

The role Steve Carell plays is vastly different than anything else I have ever seen him do, though I am not a big fan of Steve Carell (though I have nothing against him either).

I usually enjoy seeing Paul Rudd (whose name I didn't know until I looked it up just now, but whose face I am very familar with, since he appeared in several episodes of Friends), as he often appears as an every man, so I see myself in his place.  I used to feel this way about John Cusack, though his films in the 80's were much more outlandish.  I orginally planned to watch every film John Cusak made, ran out of steam with his 90's film.  I haven't seen many John Cusack films in over a decade, and while he has diversified characters, I feel less motivation to see his films.

This film is okay, but I feel like it's like an episode of Three Company, where something goes wrong, and is handled poorly and a small action on the part of one of the characters would clear up the situation, but no one does so (at least 'til the end).  It's the similar kind of situation, with various situations occurring based on that concept.  It gives you an embarrassed feeling though out the film, a feeling that I wish I could do something about, but the character's don't do so (to keep the plot alive).

I don't feel particularly sympathetic for Steve Carell's character and only feel like Paul Rudd should get away from him.  Even at the end of the film those feeling don't change.  It's like Steve Carell's character is just source of comedy, and it seem like a person such as him couldn't really exist, though they surely do, to some degree.

Rushmore (1998)

I thought I had put this movie on my list because of the death of Harold Ramis.  I recall reading an article and finding out that Bill Murry didn't talk to Harold for nearly a decade.  Some how the name of the film Rushmore was mentioned, and I thought that Harold Ramis had some involvement in it.  It appears I was wrong.

I was surprised to see that the film was co-written by Owen Wilson.  I am not a huge fan of Owen Wilson, though I have nothing against him.  I have seen a few of his films, but they don't really stand out to me.  I have gained some respect for him, now knowing that he has writing to his carrer.

Luke Wilson appears in this film, and while he has very little screen time, I am glad to see him in a film.  I have seen so little that he has done.  Only Idocracy comes to mind.

As always, Bill Murray gave a good, though some what unremarkable performance.  It was more unremarkable because the character didn't call for it and it didn't appear to have any ad-libing that I noticed.

It was a decent distraction for two hours, but I didn't bring anything away from this film.