Review of The Dinner Game

Very enjoyable French farce in which a hapless tax inspector who likes to build world landmarks from matchsticks is unwittingly invited to a “dinner for idiots” by a rather mean businessman. In this classic story, Brochant, the businessman, stands to win a significant bet by bringing the most idiotic guest, and believes that Pignon will earn him the prize.
Unfortunately, things do not go as planned and Pignon ends up spending an evening of misadventures with Brochant where each man learns a lot about the other.

The star of the show is easily Jacques Villeret as the dunderhead Pignon. Although he’s hapless and hopeless there is something charming about him and you root for him to overcome Brochant’s bigotry, but you certainly wouldn’t want him anywhere near your affairs.

The film is at its best when the situation starts to escalate within Brochant’s apartment (which the film barely leaves), where Pignon’s actions infuriate and exasperate Brochant in increasing amounts, and his actions slowly ruin Brochant’s cosy if complicated life.

You can tell this has been adapted from a play as the action and limited locations do restrict the flow at times, but the acting and comedy is superbly timed and performed that you can forgive it this minor inflection.
Definitely invest your time in this version rather than the awful recent US remake.