FILM: HORRIBLE BOSSES – FREELANCE CORRESPONDENT
Review By James Mason.
Director: Seth Gordon.
Cast: Jason Bateman, Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Aniston, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeiki, Jaime Foxx and Donald Sutherland.
Synopsis: 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. Produced by Jay Stern.
Review:
Horrible Bosses continues the trend of decent adult comedies that Todd Phillips and Judd Apatow kick-started almost a decade ago. Written by Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daly (who has a minor part in the movie and you may recognise from TV’s Bones) and Jonathan Goldstein. It is directed by Seth Gordon who directed the very watchable documentaries “The King of Kong” and “Freakanomics” but had far less luck with scripted work like “Four Christmases” (It’s a Vince Vaughn movie, case closed). Gordon wisely honed his skill for comedy by directing episodes of two of television’s best shows; Modern Family and Community.
So with a very funny script and director with great experience all that’s needed is a great comedic cast. Horrible Bosses has possibly the best troupe of talent I’ve seen in a comedy. People may disagree but let me tell you why I think this. Some comedies just throw big names or big personalities into a project and sometimes you get a film that’s funny but particularly strong as an actual film.
In Horrible Bosses by getting a cast of actual actors and comedians like Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis, you have a crew that are going to service the script and not twist it into a vehicle for egos and random improvisations. This film works so well as the script is quite well written and has an arc.
As each actor has such well defined characters and good lines they show just how professional and selfless they are in making this film. Each one has the right amount of screen time to do what they need to do. Each of them also gets their standout moment and they all bring their A-Game.
If I had to pick my favourites it would have to be Colin Farrell who transforms himself physically for the role of a repugnant coke head with possibly the best comb-over ever committed to celluloid. Jennifer Aniston clearly relished her role as the sexual predator with a mouth that’d make sailors and prostitutes blush. Kevin Spacey plays a boss that isn’t that different to the one he played in Swimming with Sharks. Jason Sudeikis is a lot livelier than anything I’ve seen him in previously. Jason Bateman is easily the most dependable straight-man working in film but may need to try something different. Charlie Day is great fun to watch and great for fans of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia even if he is essentially playing the same type of character. Such is the wealth of talent that I almost forgot to mention Jaime Foxx who plays a “murder consultant” who has great little back-story.
Horrible Bosses is a great watch and like Bridesmaids is a film that the whole couple can enjoy plus it is a film we can all relate to. I mean who hasn’t had a horrible boss ?
