From KCRW in Santa Monica, this is The Treatment.

Welcome to The Treatment. I'm Elvis Mitchell. You can also hear this show at KCRW.com.

My guest, Jay Roach, has made several series of series of films, starting with the Austin

Powers films and the Meet the Parents, Meet the Fawker films, but he's also done

movies that didn't specifically relate to a series, such as the terrific film for HBO

recount for which he won the Emmy for Best Directing.

And an interesting little film with Bert Reynolds and Russell Crowe that we've talked about before Mystery Alaska. His new film is director is Dinner for Schmucks. Jay, first

all, thanks so much for coming back. It is so good to be back. I love it. Thanks, man. I'm glad

to be here. If I have to do the, get the business out of way and ask you to explain, give us the

plot of dinner for Schmutz. Paul Rudd's character is insecure and thinks to impress his girlfriend, he has to get this

promotion at a financial company works for.

And as part of the initiation and part of the conditions to get the promotion, he has to go to a dinner

that is hosted by his boss.

And to get into the dinner, you have to bring a special guest who's meant to be a very

extraordinary person, which is kind of code for a fool that they invite and make fun of

without telling them.

And, of course, he sort of collides with Steve Carell, pulls him into his life, and Steve Carell completely undoes the whole thing.

It's funny because, you know, it's based on the French film, The Dinner Game, but suddenly, we never talked about this before.

I could see the influence of Blake Edwards, the party on all of your movies, on every single one.

You are right to notice that certainly in Austin Powers, but especially in this film, I love

that film.

And one of the things I loved about Peter Sellas' performance is that he is so earnest and so

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