We’ve all had them; bosses who make our lives miserable, unbearable and push us to the brink of insanity.
“Horrible Bosses” directed by Seth Gordon and starring Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis, is a comedy about three guys just trying to get ahead in this world. Unfortunately, they each have bosses that get in the way of that plight. Each aforementioned actor has a boss that is definitely cringe-worthy. They each commiserate after their long days over a drink (or three) about how their lives would be that much richer if these bosses didn’t exist; or if their existence were to end.Of course, the idea of offing someone is at first completely ridiculous to all of them, until they all go back to work the next day facing their bosses who seem to have upped the ante to beyond horrible. Suddenly those ridiculous thoughts become a reality.
They decide to move forward with the offing option, but they are complete idiots in how they go about their mission. This is good for us because they are at their most hilarious when they are trying to figure out what they are going to do. To tell you more, would only ruin the laughter and surprises that ensue. Discovering the encroaching hilarity is definitely worth the admission price.
Bateman, Day and Sudeikis, may not be the Stooges, or the Marx Brothers, but they work incredibly well together. Both Day and Sudeikis have worthy resumes, though neither compare to the work Bateman has accomplished, but none of that matters. They each banter effortlessly in every scene they share and compliment one another as if they have been working together for years.
The bosses played by Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston and an almost unrecognizable Colin Farrell, are horrible indeed. Spacey, whose last commercial hit was “Superman Returns” in 2006, is a pleasure to watch. He is simply, skin-crawlingly, abhorable.
Aniston, is also good. She flexes her comedic talents and shows that she has no problem playing a ruthless villain. Farrell loses himself in a Donald Trump hairstyle, and polyester clothing though he has far less screen time than the other bosses.
While the actors definitely comically drive the film, the writing definitely deserves mention. Michael Markowitz and Jonathan Goldstein have mainly written for television, while John Francis Daley, who also has a small part in the film, is the youngest contributor. His work is mostly recognizable as an actor (“Bones,” “Freaks and Geeks”), but it is clear he has a knack for writing.
The script is clever, crisp and at no point does the story get lost. It always seems to have a purpose and is driven.
The direction is also right on target. Seth Gordon may have no major film directing credits (we will not count the Vince Vaughn/ Reese Witherspoon debacle, “Four Christmases” as a major film) but that doesn’t stop him from giving us a comedy that moves swiftly and is completely enjoyable.
“Horrible Bosses” may not be nominated for any Oscars, but it is definitely a film worth seeing for a night of unexpected humor, brilliant writing, and wonderfully comedic performances.