Barry Levinson directed this comedy in which success has a rather surprising effect on two old buddies. Nick Vanderpark (
Jack Black) and Tim Dingman (
Ben Stiller) are best friends and next-door neighbors who work together at a sandpaper factory. Nick and Tim often find themselves wishing for something more from life, and Nick has a habit of dreaming up harebrained get-rich-quick schemes that usually end in disaster. Tim is particularly appalled by Nick's latest idea, "Vapoorizer," a cleaning product which will make pet feces magically disappear, but to their shock, it turns out to be an incredible success, and before long Nick is wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. Tim, however, is still the same guy getting by in suburbia he's always been, and soon Tim finds himself bitterly resentful of his old friend. As Nick gets richer, Tim gets angrier, and he develops a drinking problem. One night, in a bar, Tim meets an eccentric drifter (
Christopher Walken) who offers him some not-so-friendly advice on getting even with his old friend. Envy also stars
Rachel Weisz and
Amy Poehler as Tim and Nick's much-put-upon spouses. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide