10 Awful Films The Office Actors Want Us To Forget

In 2010, Steve Carell and co-star Paul Rudd were on hot streaks. The Office was in its pomp, Carrel was progressing into drama, and Role Models (the most underrated comedy of the 21st century?) was a recent memory. Add Andrea Savage, Jermaine Clement, and the recently broken-through Zach Galifianakis, and you should have a pretty funny movie.

Instead, we were given Dinner For Schmucks. This remake of a 1998 French farce is one of the most actively dislikable studio comedies you can have the misfortune to see. The simple plot sees an ambitious office grafter invited to his boss’ dinner party with a twist - attendees are to bring the strangest oddball they can find, for the amusement of the clued-in guests.

The French original is acidic and black hearted, with a wildly unravelling plot. The US version is cloying, irritating, and bereft of laughs. It’s tricky to make Paul Rudd detestable, but Dinner For Schmucks does so with time to spare.

Carell plays broad as well as anyone, but there’s a limit. As a loud, overbearing buffoon, he’s nothing short of infuriating. This is a blip on an otherwise mostly rosy CV, but one Carell must regret to this day.