Movie Review: 'Horrible Bosses'

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Do you hate your boss–enough to commit murder? If so, do catch this raunchily funny movie that will provide some sleazy entertainment. Nowadays, with so much outright yawn-inducing retreads filling up the big screens, that’s not a bad deal.

I confess to liking Horrible Bosses more than I should have. Call it a guilty pleasure if you will, but there is so much vulgarity and bathroom humor set loose, that one cringes as much as smiles as the three protagonists plan their respective revenges on their bosses from hell.

The film raises tastelessness (misogyny, racism, homophobia) to new levels of political un-correctness, but its saving grace is that it somehow manages to do this with tongue planted firmly in cheek and eyes winking at the audience at all the time. Everyone seems to be saying “Yeah, this is wrong, but you’re laughing, aren’t you?”  The audience I saw the film with certainly was.

The film opens with clever scenes of our heroes’ confrontations at their workplaces, complete with super titles accurately describing the bosses’ in less than flattering language. The sheer desperation of the protagonists makes the less palatable aspects of their behavior somewhat more believable and even charming, which is the films’ overall saving grace. 

Given that the plot often threatens to cross a fine line between believability and cartoonish buffoonery, it is the superb ensemble acting of all concerned that save the film from the time-worn and clichéd.

Jason Bateman’s Nick is tyrannized by Kevin Spacey, more or less reprising the sadistic Hollywood agent he did to perfection in Swimming With Sharks. When Spacey screams at Nick, “I own you!” we believe him totally.

The other Jason (Sudeikas) works for an almost unrecognizable Colin Farrell (kudos to the wig and make-up department), a manic, dangerously hyper cocaine addict who inherits his company after his dad’s death, a good Donald Sutherland as the complete opposite of his son’s borderline Charles Manson-like persona.

Rounding out the trio is the hapless dental hygienist, Dale, of Charlie Day, who, in a nice gender switcheroo, is sexually hounded non-stop by the predatory advances of Julia Harris, DDS, in a slightly miscast but frighteningly humorless performance by Jennifer Aniston. We are talking stalker pathology here as Dr. Harris stops at nothing to have her way with Dale. 

There are overt references to Strangers on a Train, Throw Momma From the Train, and 9 to 5. The question becomes not will the men take revenge, but how far will they go and will we stay aboard for the ride? 

Jamie Foxx is pitch-perfect dead-pan as a “murder consultant,” replete with Mike Tyson-like tribal skull tattoos. If at times Mssrs. Bateman, Sudeikis and Day recall The 3 Stooges, that is no doubt intended as loving tribute.

Well directed by Seth Gordon from a screenplay by Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, Horrible Bosses won’t disappoint and might provide you with a little vicarious pleasure to think of the next time you face your own “boss from hell."

Horrible Bosses (R)
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