The Dinner Game (1998)

In the high-society circles of Paris, a group of affluent gentlemen have created a wickedly amusing pastime - a weekly dinner where each participant is tasked with bringing the most comically dimwitted guest they can find. The guests, oblivious of their roles, are expected to chatter about their hobbies, turning themselves into the butt of covert jokes. Pierre, a regular participant, is confident he has found the perfect contender, François Pignon, a man whose simple-mindedness seems unparalleled. The night of the dinner, however, fate decides to stir the pot. Pierre, unfortunately, throws his back out, leaving him in crippling pain and casting doubt on his ability to attend the dinner. But, ever the optimist, Pierre had already invited his unsuspecting guest to his home for a pre-dinner meet. Pignon, in his earnest naivety, takes it upon himself to 'assist' Pierre, inadvertently spiraling Pierre's life into chaos, entangling him in a web of misunderstandings related to friends, taxes, and women. As Pierre's well-ordered life starts to crumble under the bumbling interventions of Pignon, the movie evolves into a clever comedy of errors. The line between the jester and the jestee blurs, with Pierre’s original objective of winning the dinner game taking an unexpected turn. In the end, amid the calamity and the laughter, Pignon unwittingly proves his worth, demonstrating that there's more to him than meets the eye. "The Dinner Game" is a delightful French farce that serves up a deliciously biting commentary on the nature of human folly and the unexpected ways in which life can upturn the best-laid plans.

The Dinner Game is a comedy movie featuring Thierry Lhermitte and directed by Francis Veber.

The Dinner Game is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.

It is also possible to buy The Dinner Game on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.