Cinema Verdict Review: Horrible Bosses

Horrible Bosses

OPENING: 07/08/2011

STUDIO: Warner Bros.

RUN TIME: 100 min

ACCOMPLICES:
Trailer, Official Site

The Charge
Ever wish your boss were dead?

Opening Statement
Up until now, Seth Gordon has been best-known for his fascinating documentary The King of Kong. Now he makes his transition into traditional, mainstream filmmaking with the raunchy comedy Horrible Bosses, which proves to be one of the summer’s most entertaining comic outings in spite of its numerous flaws.

Facts of the Case
Our story concerns three male friends who are each working for employers they can’t stand. Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman, Arrested Development) slaves tirelessly under the cruel, smug, self-serving taskmaster Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey, The Big Kahuna). Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis, Hall Pass) works for the repugnant, coke-snorting sleazeball Bobby Pellitt (Colin Farrell, In Bruges). Dale Arbus (Charlie Day, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) is employed by the attractive, sexually aggressive Dr. Julia Harris (Jennifer Aniston, The Switch). Nick and Kurt fail to sympathize with Dale’s odd plight, but then Dale is a rather conservative individual who wants nothing more than to be faithful to his fiancee (Lindsay Sloane, She’s Out of My League).

After one particularly frustrating day capped by a few hours of heavy drinking, the three pals are struck with inspiration: what if they just murdered their bosses? It would solve all of their problems and make their lives considerably better. Alas, actually carrying out this devious plot proves to be far more challenging than they initially anticipated.

The Evidence
In some ways, Horrible Bosses feels like the sort of film I really shouldn’t like. It requires some of its characters to act like complete idiots in order for the film to continue, the screenwriters have no conceivable idea of how to write a credible female character, the movie frequently leans on easy shock value for laughs and the movie is rooted in the kind of frat-boy comic sensibility which won The Hangover entirely too much praise.

And yet, Horrible Bosses made me laugh quite a bit, and not just due to the cheap (but nonetheless enjoyable) pleasure of seeing actors like Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston and Colin Farrell engage in all manner of depraved villainy. There are moments of loopy inspiration littered throughout the film; delightfully off-kilter grace notes which somehow play beautifully off of the film’s broad, obvious moments. It takes a reel or two to pick up steam, but after a while the film has generated such goodwill and comic momentum that you’re even willing to chuckle at a wheezy scene in which Bateman and Sudeikis contemplate the possibility of being sexually violated in prison.

Part of what makes the film work so well is the playful chemistry between the three leads. Their distinctive screen personas play wonderfully off of each other, as Bateman’s neurotic despair, Sudeikis’s misguided bravado and Day’s dimwitted innocence create a delicious comedic cocktail. Day in particular is wonderful; bringing a reckless energy to a series of increasingly outlandish scenes (his cocaine-fueled freakout is a thing of wonder). Bateman delivers laughs of a considerably subtler variety; turning in those patented despondent facial expressions to increasingly amusing effect. The guys are all technically straight men to their crazed employers, but they manage to ensure that no one has an easy time stealing scenes from them.

Speaking of the bosses, the movie stars playing them seem to be having a grand time in their smaller-than-usual roles. Kevin Spacey probably has the most screen time, and has fun indulging that nasty Swimming with Sharks snarkiness that he can do in his sleep. Colin Farrell is equally effective with only a handful of scenes, sporting a terrifying combover, endless flop sweat and a despairing spite for his employees. Aniston is handed a preposterous character; Julia feels less like a woman than like a cartoon written by clueless men. Even so, she manages to sell the role simply with the entertaining gusto of her performance. It’s a vastly more successful attempt at re-branding for the actress than her “dark & gritty” turn a few years ago in Derailed. However, the prize for best supporting turn goes to Jamie Foxx, who turns in several of the film’s most entertaining moments and aces some of the film’s best lines. There are two jokes about Foxx’s name–the first has been spoiled in many reviews, and it’s funny, but the second is gut-bustingly hilarious. That’s the film’s splendid saving grace: the ability to generate a chuckle and then quickly transform it into a full-blown laugh. There’s also a welcome bite to much of the comedy, as this film more or less tosses aside the warm & gooey center which lies at the core of so many R-rated comedies in the Apatow era.

Closing Statement
As I indicated earlier, I could spend a good deal of time complaining about the multiple flaws Horrible Bosses has, but I really don’t want to. Warts and all, this film made me laugh as much as any other I’ve seen this year, and I left the theatre with a silly grin on my face. Easily offended viewers might want to steer clear (there were several walkouts midway through my screening), but otherwise this flick delivers a solid evening of entertainment.

The Verdict
8/10

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