Horrible Bosses; Hello to "Bro-Evil" Payback from the Peons

Horrible Bosses

Synopsis:

Three buddies working in three different companies are grappling with a miserable existence working under dreadful bosses. Together they devise a murderous plan to rectify the situation, and rid themselves of their superiors-for good.

Genre: Comedy
Released July 2011

Starring: Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx.

Directed by Seth Gordon, written by Micheal Markowitz  

Rating: R (sexual content, pervasive language and some drug material)

Horrible Bosses gleefully works in spite of its crude storyline, largely due to some unique chemistry brewing between with the three main characters; Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) and Dale (Charlie Day). Although three long-time friends are barely coping with abuses from their horrendous bosses,  they each come to terms with staying put at their jobs, due to rough economic job situation in lingering today's recession.  Nick could be promoted to V.P of Sales at his firm if only his psychotic boss (Kevin Spacey) wasn’t preventing any advancement. Kurt is the pet employee of the boss/owner of a chemical company who is forced to take a backseat when this boss dies. The irresponsible coke-head son (Colin Farrell) moves in to take over the business.   Dale is a dental assistant, who is very devoted to his fiancé but  each day struggles with outrageous, crude sexual advances from his boss, Dr. Julia Harris (Jennifer Aniston). Fed up, together they hire a murder consultant con-man (Jamie Foxx), who advises them to kill each other’s bosses so the crimes can’t be traced.

The pace of the storyline is quick, as their plan unfolds, moving seamlessly from one hilarious antic to the next.  Dale (Charlie Day) successfully pulls off his goofy, nerdy persona illustrated during the murderous plot, bungling his tasks along the way.  Producers Brett Ratner and Jay Stern (Rush Hour films) as expected, deliver on the screeching tires and general mayhem theme, as the film progresses.

Dale (Charlie Day)and his boss, Dentist
Julia Harris (Jennifer Aniston)

What is interesting, and  downright refreshing in this comedy,  is the diversion of the lead characters from their typical film roles. For example, Jennifer Aniston's normally predicable "goodie two-shoes" persona  jumps waaay outside the box with her dirty display of no-holds barred sexual advances, as she preys on her helpless assistant Dale.   Because the roles have reversed with a male on the recipient end of sexual harassment, we gain an unusual perspective,  and truly feel sympathy towards him. Colin Farrell, is barely recognizable as the boss-son replacement, balding, coke-snorting, and womanizing, while embracing his ruthless, crass behavior with ease.

Kevin Spacey as Nick's boss, smoothly rolls through his part, exhibiting his pompous self,  effortlessly, as for him,  a more disgusting character is a norm for many of roles, and is very easy to hate.

These potential murderers exude a unique camaraderie that causes the audience to be drawn to support their cause. We gain a liking for three compromised employees, relating perhaps to the many unjust situations in our own work lives over the years, and also secretly wishing “bad’ on our superiors.  If any of the three is the lead man, it’s Jason Bateman as he triumphs in his "lets get organized" role. He guides the group as best he can, considering the goofy scenarios that seem to continually crop up for the trio. A fun, well-scripted flick, guaranteed to evoke laughs, and garner your support for a murderous quest.

Jason Bateman is busy with two upcoming movie releases; August 2011's Change-up (also starring Ryan Reynolds),  and in 2012,  Arrested Development (Michael Cera, Portia Rossi). Jennifer Aniston is wrapping up Wanderlust, set to open October 2011, which is a story about an urban couple who decides to branch out to live a more counter-culture lifestyle.