Do Steve Carell & Paul Rudd Have What It Takes to Be Schmucks?

New comedy from Meet the Parents director features a hilarious cast, but do they have a strong enough story to work with?

We really hope these Schmucks don't disappoint. Right now, we're 50-50. First, great cast: Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Zach Galifianakis (!), The Daily Show's Larry Wilmore and Flight of the Conchords' Kristen Schaal (also of TDS). But really you had us at Galifianakis, and you know it!

On the other hand, the Dinner With Schmucks story looks like it could easily be a letdown. Rudd's gunning for a big promotion, and he's thisclose! Only thing is, as his final test, he has to bring the most idiotic/clumsy/awkward/clueless guest he can find to the boss's dinner party to be the subject of merciless mocking. If Rudd's hilarious loser (Carell) is the best of them all…yay, promotion! Problem is, all the "schmucks" seem genuinely sweet. Moral conflict on which the plot hinges? Maybe. But does that really bring the funny?

If this all sounds familiar, that's because it's based on the not-so-great French movie Le Dîner des Cons. (You might remember it as The Dinner Game, a polite translation of the title, to say the least.)

But Steve Carell building "mousterpieces," Kristen Schaal dabbing Rudd's sweaty forehead with a sticky and Zach having the power to control minds?! Even if it disappoints, we'll walk away from the table with some great memories.