Thanks for checking out our Horrible Bosses Review
Genre: Comedy
Directed by:
Staring: Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day, P.J. Byrne, Steve Wiebe, Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Aniston,
Released: July 8th, 2011
THE GENERAL IDEA
For Nick, Kurt and Dale, the only thing that would make the daily grind more tolerable would be to grind their intolerable bosses into dust. Quitting is not an option, so, with the benefit of a few-too-many drinks and some dubious advice from a hustling ex-con, the three friends devise a convoluted and seemingly foolproof plan to rid themselves of their respective employers…permanently. There’s only one problem: even the best laid plans are only as foolproof as the brains behind them.
THE GOOD
There is a LOT of laugh out loud moments in this film and watching Bateman, Sudekis and Day play off each other is just brilliant. Each has his role to play – straight man, idiot and enabler – which just builds to crazy moments and a lot of laughs.
The movie is a rapdifire sequence of impossible situations and very funny moments that keep you engaged and confused to laughter much the way The Hangover does.
Bateman and Sudekis are spot on for their standard of quality comedy but the one character that does steal the show is Charlie Day’s idiot character Dale. He steals every scene he is in yet plays so well with the other two that he doesn’t make the movie about him.
Jennifer Aniston is hot. Sorry, I had to throw this in here, but Aniston with dark hair and the maneater sultry just works. That creature shouldn’t die no matter how she harasses her staff.
THE BAD
The whole movie falls into that category of film where you have to throw a little logic to the wind. The premise that they would all want to have their bosses murdered comes out of left field and honestly holds no real logic at all. Everyone has had a boss they don’t like, but no matter how bad it is, you can just suck it up, quit, or at most plot to get them fired/arrested etc. But murder is a leap in logic you have to accept or nothing matters. Its a BIG leap, and one that is tough to recognize.
The rest of the movie is fun, but there is nothing here that suggests Murder is the only option. Without it, there is no film, so we accept it and move forward.
OVERALL
All in all the movie was SO funny in its caracature moments and interactions that it manages to overcome the impossible leap of logic to have your boss murdered instead of ANY logical alternative.
A comedy’s job is to make you laugh, and this does it in spades. My score reflects how much fun I had compared to how much the premise was to overcome.
I give Horrible Bosses a 7 out of 10
Horrible Bosses was surprisingly funny. Also agree that Charlie Day was the best of the three.
“Everyone has had a boss they don’t like, but no matter how bad it is, you can just suck it up, quit, or at most plot to get them fired/arrested etc. But murder is a leap in logic you have to accept or nothing matters. Its a BIG leap, and one that is tough to recognize.”
I disagree. Whilst it isn’t exactly a logical decision, it’s a decision they make in a bar and clearly haven’t thought too hard about. They don’t think about or understand the actual reality of murder and are incredibly naive. This is played for laughs, for instance when they hire the ‘hit man’, and the film itself is largely very innocent of any actual murderous intent.
In fact, the criticism I would level, were I to level one, would be that the film wasn’t dark enough and wasn’t edgy enough. There was never any real threat of violence from the characters (excluding Kevin Spacey towards the end) and this, I felt, detracted somewhat from it. It was played too safe. Still, I did like it quite a lot.
Not nearly as many “LOL” moments as I hoped. Batemen and Sudeikis fell flat. I really would have liked their characters more if they were cast better. Maybe Ed Helms.
Spacey, Aniston, Farrell, and Charlie Day make this movie worth while, but not really enough to justify a theater visit. This one is DVD or cable at best.
6 out of 10.
I would even go as far as to say 5 out of 10. There were more chuckles than laughs (with the exception of the motherf***** jones story), but aside from Spacey and Day I just had the hardest time finding anyone remotely funny or clever.
I understand the concept of throwing logic to the wind for a film like this, but I felt it was asking for too much leeway.
Lil’ guy (dental asst.)stole the show, and Sedakis had a better outing in Hall Pass, Spacey get’s an A for being a Asshole (typecast?).
Colin Farrel need more screentime
C+
I really liked this one. I thought Jennifer Aniston really showed off some comedic acting chops, Jason Bateman’s dry humor never gets old to me “I don’t win much.” But I didn’t love it. While it was funny, I never really got a belly laugh over it. Bad Teacher might have even been a little funnier and that film fell pretty flat.
Here’s the truth. If Jennifer Aniston wants to have sex with you, it isn’t sexual harassment. period
One question, Do you see Jennifer A, naked?
My ‘friend’ would also like to know if she gets naked.
no she does not get naked but she gets next to naked. that actually reminds me a funny line from the movie. you should go check it out.