The Dinner Game (Le Dîner de cons) (1999)
89%RT Audience Score: 93%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 4 nominations
The Dinner Game, a French comedy that was originally a play, has received mixed reviews from critics. While some have praised the film’s ability to turn a simple premise into comedy gold, others have criticized its stagey set-up and belabored humor. Despite this, the film manages to maintain its energy and tautness, thanks in part to the on-the-money performances of its leads. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, The Dinner Game is a delightful means of escaping the mundane and indulging in some good old-fashioned entertainment.
If you’re looking for a movie that will make you laugh until you cry, The Dinner Game is the perfect choice. Critics may call it “idiotic” or “belabored,” but we call it hilarious. The premise is simple: a group of friends compete to see who can bring the biggest idiot to a dinner party. But the execution is pure comedy gold. From the odd-coupled performances to the mean-spirited humor, this movie is a sip of sparkling champagne in a sea of cheap red wine. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and get ready to laugh your head off.
Production Company(ies)
C J Entertainment, Moho Film Yong Film
Distributor
Lions Gate Entertainment
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Evecquemont, Yvelines, France
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for language
Year of Release
1998
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 20m
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Language(s):French
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Country of origin:France
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 25, 1998 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 19, 2003
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Jacques Villeret, Thierry Lhermitte, Catherine Frot, Francis Huster, Daniel Prévost, Alexandra Vandernoot, directed by Francis Veber, written by Francis Veber, produced by Alain Poiré, comedy, PG-13, box office performance, budget, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Lisa Nesselson, Andrea C Basora, Lisa Alspector, Andrew Sarris, Eleanor Ringel Cater, Charles Gordon, Maitland McDonagh, Doris Toumarkine, Jeffrey M Anderson, Merle Bertrand, Anthony Miele, Jacques Villeret as François Pignon, Thierry Lhermitte as Pierre Brochant, Catherine Frot as Marlène, Francis Huster as Just Leblanc, Daniel Prévost as Lucien Cheval, Alexandra Vandernoot as Christine Brochant
Worldwide gross: $4,071,548
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,471,865
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,051
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 814,816
US/Canada gross: $4,071,548
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,471,865
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,695
US/Canada opening weekend: $25,520
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $46,833
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,236
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): FRF 82,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Thierry Lhermitte – Pierre Brochant
Catherine Frot – Marlène
Francis Huster – Just Leblanc
Daniel Prévost – Lucien Cheval
Alexandra Vandernoot – Christine Brochant
Director(s)
Francis Veber
Writer(s)
Francis Veber
Producer(s)
Alain Poiré
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (46) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (34) | Rotten (12)
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Weaves a simple premise into comedy gold.
January 14, 2008
Lisa Nesselson
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Despite the stagey set-up (it was originally conceived as a play and it shows), the film manages to maintain its humor and energy until the final scene in which Veber suddenly casts aside his delightful meanspiritedness and gets soft-hearted and preachy.
January 14, 2008
Andrea C. Basora
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Some realist nuances in the characters’ behavior become more intriguing than the belabored humor.
January 14, 2008
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
A sip of sparkling champagne in a moviegoing summer of mostly cheap red wine for teenage winos.
April 27, 2007
Andrew Sarris
Observer
TOP CRITIC
On its own terms, it’s an idiot’s delight.
February 21, 2004
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
One of the best of the crop of new movies, The Dinner Game, is a telling assault on the ironic sensibility.
October 21, 2019
Charles Gordon
Maclean’s Magazine
Scared of sophisticated French cinema? This coarse comedy will restore your confidence.
January 14, 2008 | Rating: 1/4
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide
Its very tautness and on-the-money performances from the odd-coupled Jacques Villeret and Thierry Lhermitte help make this a highly amusing and old-fashioned big-screen entertainment.
January 16, 2007
Doris Toumarkine
Film Journal International
If you don’t like this type of movie to begin with (I don’t), you won’t be converted this time around.
May 26, 2006 | Rating: 1.5/4
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
An idiot is exactly what you’ll be if you don’t check out The Dinner Game.
December 6, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Merle Bertrand
Film Threat
Easily the funniest and most charming film that has been or will be released in 1999 … period.
December 6, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Anthony Miele
Film Threat…
Plot
To amuse themselves at a weekly dinner, a few well-heeled folk each bring a dimwit along who is to talk about his pastime. Each member seeks to introduce a champion dumbbell. Pierre, an avid participant of the game, runs into one problem after another that devilishly compromises his secrets, turning the tables on him and his objective, which diverges as the movie progresses. Firstly, wishing to be certain he has selected a winner, he invited his guest, Mr. Pignon, to meet him at home before setting off; but night of all nights, Pierre has put his back out and it is questionable whether he can manage to get to the dinner. The blundering Mr. Pignon will continually spring forward to help relieve Pierre of his troubles, which have drastically compounded, pointing in the direction of friends, taxes and women, and Pierre’s dimwit Pignon accordingly will prove his substance to the end.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Dinner Game features a standout performance from Jacques Villeret as the well-intentioned idiot.
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