uh, I watched it on cable tonight. It has elements of the grand old farces of the silver screen and the stage. Populate the play with nuts and good actors and it all works. I could say lots of bad things about being mean to people is the real point but I laughed too hard.

The really hysterical thing is that the dioramas with the dead mice are so damn good. They are spectacular.

So is Steve Carell. He's excellent at being strange and so very funny. From the very first scene he is in, he owns the movie.

You're right. The original is the French film, "the Dinner Game" (Le diner des cons). It is presented from a different angle, but is a great comedy.

I enjoyed this one very much at the theatre. My wife didn't get it, and I tried to explain the concept of "high farce" to her, but it fell on deaf ears.

This is very much like The Three Stooges. If you get it, it's screamingly funny but if you don't get it, it's dreadfully awful.

The question comes down to "who woud you want to be friends with" and the magic that Steve Carell pulls off is to make his truly nerdy character, who does everything wrong (it seems) into such a sweet and lovable guy that you want him as a friend. Why? Because despite all his faults (deceased mice and inappropriate behavior aside) when you need a friend most desperately, his character will be there. And that's a friend.

But in between, it's going to be a screwball ride.