Employee of the Month (2004)

Director:

Mitch Rouse

Writers (WGA):

Mitch Rouse (written by) &
Jay Leggett (written by)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Congratulations, you're fired!

Plot:

"Employee of the Month" is about a guy whose day spirals from bad to worse when he gets fired from his...

Plot Keywords:

Bank | Engagement | Hooker | Bank Robbery | Shot In The Head

Cast

Matt Dillon	...	David Walsh
Steve Zahn	...	Jack
Christina Applegate	...	Sara Goodwin
Andrea Bendewald	...	Wendy
Dave Foley	...	Eric
Jay Leggett	...	Dorff
David Pasquesi	...	Kyle Lacopa
Peter Jason	...	Bill Gartin
Paul Dooley	...	Reverend Ben Goodwin
Noel Gugliemi	...	Chicken (as Noel Guglielmi)
Renee Albert	...	Martha
Enrique Almeida	...	Ruben
Mark Beltzman	...	Hank
Brian Blondell	...	Paulo, the Waiter
John Timothy Botka	...	Yuppie

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, sexuality and language.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:M18 | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/16 | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Australia:MA | Finland:K-15 | USA:R | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Employee of the Month

Trivia:

The number on the bus David rides after being fired is 5150, which is a police code meaning 'danger to self and/or others.'

Goofs:

Continuity: After Matt Dillon gets done peeing on the bank manager's picture, it is dry again a few moments later.

Quotes:

[in the sauna]
Jack: You ever watch figure skating, man?
David Walsh: Please don't talk. I've got a lot on my mind.
Jack: I'm not into the sushi, but Michelle Kwan...
David Walsh: What are you doing? Can we just sit here and not talk? Can we do that? Let's just try and do that.
Jack: ...I'd suck sake out of her ass in front of my grandmother.

Movie Connections:

References The Crying Game (1992)

It's all an illusion, dark comedy/drama with plot twists

David Walsh (Matt Dillon) is a banking officer, who's life seems to go terribly wrong when his job review sandbags him and instead of being made employee of the month, he's fired. To make matters worst after work his fiancée, Sara Goodwin (Christina Applegate) confronts him with his infidelity, ends their relationship and tosses him out on the street. How could things get any worse (or better)? His friend Jack seems to think things are finally moving in the right direction, all David needs now is a night of drinking, a handgun, and he'll be ready for some payback, unless a bank robbery interferes with his plans.

The acting is very good, and in some scenes great, with Steve Zahn (Jack) stealing most of the scenes he's in. Peter Jason is also outstanding as Mr. Gartin the tough Bank VP. The humour is very black, and the dialog well written. From the opening scene and repeatedly during the film, the idea that life is an illusion is mentioned. But it's not until several unforeseen plot twists later that the viewer realizes that two separate plots have been simultaneously unfolding, or maybe not.

If you like any of the cast, dark humour, good acting, a plot with twists and turns, then this is a little gem you should try out.