Dinner for Schmucks

Succeeds because Steve Carell and Paul Rudd own and embody their characters SO WELL. If there had been any winking at the camera or any false notes, the whole comedy house-of-cards would have collapsed. But because you have to believe that Carell’s socially inept recluse has the best possible intentions, the preposterous situations set up and payoff skillfully, creating an explosion of humiliation about every three minutes. It runs long and it doesn’t really surprise story-wise, but the characterizations are expertly, sublimely goofy.