People, especially critics in the trades, need to get a sense of humor. Those of us who don’t take ourselves that seriously already do so. At least we try. It helps not to be a snobby snot if you have to review a movie like “Horrible Bosses,” which is, by the way, a very funny movie.
Directed with collected cool calm by Seth Gordon (“The King of Kong”), “Horrible Bosses” could have also been titled The Vengeance of the 3 Amigos (or the 3 Chiflados…whom they all resemble). Nick (Jason Bateman), Dale (Charlie Day) and Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) hate their bosses, although depending on who you are, Dale may not really have a big problem, if a problem at all… You see, Dale has a happy problem (and an unhappy legal one!) His beautiful boss, Dentist Julia Harris (a brunette Jennifer Aniston) is in hot pursuit of his hot little body.
Orale! Dale is probably the first and only man in Los Angeles who would be repulsed by the idea of a boss who looked like Jennifer Aniston aggressively hitting on him … OK, remember this is a comedy and not a documentary. Without getting bogged down by ethics and sexual harassment issues, (remember again, this is a comedy…) let’s just admit this one is a stretch.At least the script does address the fact that other hot blooded males would consider this hot enchilada a happy problem. The other two are less lucky. Nick is totally abused by his boss, the demented Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey channeling Buddy Ackerman) who relishes playing a modern day psycho like no other. Kurt had it easy until his beloved boss died (Donald Sutherland) and the company falls in the hands of his corrupt, cokehead of a son, Bobby (Colin Farrell in a nice Halloween costume!)
These three amigos often commiserate over beers and cheap food at the local pub. But since anger and alcohol do not mix well … especially at the end of the day, in no time the three unhappy amigos hatch an evil plan to eliminate their misery: kill the bosses.
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Do we take turns or do we hire someone? Weapons??? And if so what kind? Yes, the questions start to pile up since everything, especially planning 3 murders requires some planning and preparation and alibis and a stake out and a consultant?? Before you can say “perfect murder,” things start to go wrong, before they go slightly right and then go terribly wrong again… Just remember that crimes of passion are always unplanned and it takes very little here to accidentally provoke one.
When they realized that at least ONE of their wishes has been granted before the natural process takes over they are confused and caught in a riddle What now? I guess that as long as the real killer is alive … they are not safe.
Comedies work best when you are surprised by the unexpected and when the chemistry between the actors is right. It also works well if we can relate and Dios Mio! Every single human being in the planet, especially in this economy has either been there or knows someone how has been there. There is that place called the misery of working for someone horrible. Si senor, it all feels very real and very immediate.
The greatest strength of this film is the ensemble actors, especially those who are talented but either undervalued and underexposed (Bateman), or overexposed and unlucky (Aniston) or simply mostly out of sight but solid (Spacey, Day, Farrell, Foxx).
No, “Horrible Bosses” is not moronic, juvenile or vulgar. At least not any more so that other extremely successful recent comedies such has “The Hangover II” and Bridesmaids.” It’s just funny. Maybe not Judd Apatow-Joel Cohen-James Brooks-Farrelly Brothers funny. This one is funny, as in funny. And that, amigos, is all an R-rated, 90 minute comedy requires. Laughs and giggles.
Runtime: 100 min
Rating: Rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language and some drug material.
Official Site: Horrible Bosses
Production: New Line Cinema
Director Credit: Seth Gordon
