Steve Carell & Paul Rudd Talk Dinner For Schmucks
03 September 2010
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Actors Steve Carell and Paul Rudd star in Dinner for Schmucks directed by Jay Roach. The film is based on the 1998 French film The Dinner Game. Carell, now 47, has quietly become Hollywood’s most beloved comedic actor.
After the hit The 40 Year Old Virgin, this thespian has been gathering a lot of recognition in an industry where being bankable is a key element to get to the top.
The 40 Year Old Virgin, Date Night and Get Smart have not only grossed more than 150 million dollars apiece worldwide, but they have also brought a consequential rise to his stock. No wonder that the producers of Dinner for Schmucks (Walter F. Parkes and Laurie McDonald) thought of him as their first option for the role of the schmuck, and Carell just went for it.
"I wanted to do it immediately, especially when I heard that Jay (Roach) and Paul (Rudd) would potentially be involved. I think the fact that they were attached was a deciding factor for me".
Paul Rudd was definitely a sure bet to play the straight guy and a perfect partner for Carell. The duo has worked together before and the chemistry between them is definitely palpable. "There is even more love between us than at first sight (laughs). We did not have much time to rehearse, so the fact that we are friends and that we have worked before was very helpful.
"We would come right in and start working and trust one another" says Carell. For Paul the fact that he was inches away from him when his hair was being ripped of his chest during the shoot of The 40 Year Old Virgin was definitely a way to get rid of any boundaries. "It is definitely very helpful when you trust and like somebody like Paul" acknowledges Steve.
Paul Rudd has been one of those actors seen for years in tiny roles but always leaving a strong impression on the audience. It seems like the wait is over and finally the New Jersey born actor is having his opportunity to show what he is made of.
However, even though working with Steve might be a pleasant experience, he admits having problems controlling his laughter while shooting the film. "There is a scene where I could not stop laughing, at the brunch when Steve brings Lucy Punch. There was a lot playing around between Steve and David (Walliams).
"It was tough not to laugh. I just saw Steve´s face and burst into laughter. On certain occasions I think of something really macabre to stop laughing but it is actually counter productive. Breathing and thinking since I don’t want to be disrespectful is what ultimately works for me."
Since Dinner For Schmucks is not really a truthful remake of The Dinner Game but more of a reinvented version, both actors had the blessing from Jay Roach to allow their improv skills to fly free based on the new script by David Guion and Michael Handelman.
"We talked about the fact that this movie was different to The Dinner Game, so we did not want to see the original right before shooting this one. It would have stayed in our heads, even subconsciously and we did not want that, we did not want to act like a copycat of the actors in the original film.
"We look at Dinner For Schmucks like a way to create our own version", explains Rudd. "For me" adds Carell, "the objective was not to improve upon the original, because that would be impossible. It is the same attitude I took on the American version of The Office. The goal was to make something interesting and enjoyable without attempting to live up to the original".
The Diner Gamer by Francis Veber is one of the most beloved films in French cinema. The French writer/director has among his titles other gems like La Cage Aux Folles or Les Fugitifs. That alone should scare the hell out of Steve and Paul when the movie gets released in France but so far they are holding their ground.
"So far I have not read anything against our version" says Steve. "Me neither", adds Paul. "I don’t know about any critics or any reviews or anything like that. The original film has such fans, including us that I assume there will be people that will hate us because we are messing with it (smiles).
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