Horrible Bosses

Just got back from a press screening. Horrible Bosses is an easy to relate to comedy that keeps you engaged and amused all the way. Some great scenes involving crude/sexual/racial humor that catch you off guard and have you rolling. The plot is a little forced, as was the ending, which is partially forgivable in the case of a comedy, as long as it makes you laugh. Seeing Kevin Spacey play asshole boss brought back fond memories (Swimming With Sharks), he pulls it off very well. Jennifer Aniston very outside her standard girly role, and it was awesome. Charlie Day was amazing, and resembles his character in always Sunny in Philly (personal fav). Overall, not quite for the collection, but definitely worthwhile a trip to the movie theater!

I had high hopes for Horrible Bosses. It started out well. The first 15 minutes made it seem like it would be really good. The premise was alright and the first few minutes set up the rest of the movie well. Unfortunately, the joke writing was bad. There were a few funny lines, but they were interwoven into a tapestry of mediocrity. I'm pretty biased though because I don't like Charlie Day's shtick. He plays the exact same character as he does in Always Sunny, a really stupid guy who talks a mile a minute and if you listen carefully there's a few jokes in there. I don't enjoy that. I don't really like Jason Sudekis either. I find him bland and he plays an extremely dull character in this as well. You could take him out and the movie would still be mostly the same. Jason Bateman's character seems to be aware he's in a bad comedy. He doesn't really seem to like Sudekis or Day and treats all the wacky situations with a sort of slightly angry distaste.

I watched Bridesmaids a few nights ago and enjoyed it way more than Horrible Bosses. That movie also had story line problems, but it had a lot of funny parts. That's all I want a comedy to do, make me laugh. Horrible Bosses didn't really do that for me, as the vast majority of its never-ending dialogue falls enormously flat.

I do not usually watch movies with SNL actors because the scripts seem mass produced (could list so many examples) with about as much skill as meat grinding, but I slummed it about a month ago. This is far more the caliber of Bridesmaids than Mr. Deeds. All the actors work brilliantly together and it was so witty and fresh that I did not want it to end. Even though Jason Bateman plays the same character in most of his comedies his timing is great and he is always funny. I laughed hard and loudly so I am glad I didn't see it at the theater. Yes, there are some corny and preposterous bits of luck as with all of these kinds of movies that I used to avoid but this one is worth it. Jamie Foxx has several scene stealing moments. This is a great movie for any weekend but if you are desperate for some pandemic levity and stress relief, make sure to put this on you list-even if you are a movie snob!

Horrible Bosses is a great comedy that doesn't waste it's really good central premise thanks to a really strong central trio and a truly twisted sense of humour that hits way more than it misses.

Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day are all fantastic with impressive chemistry, able to bounce off each other consistently. Colin Farrell and Jennifer Aniston are both perfect at being truly horrible bosses.

Seth Gordon's direction is good, competently shot with a nice pace which keeps the jokes and energy going across its relatively short run time. The soundtrack is a lot of fun, interspersed well and fitting the twisted tone really well.

Those who think Hollywood is no longer capable of creating a funny comedy for adults need not worry, as "Horrible Bosses" is proof that that increasingly rare phenomenon can still happen.

"Horrible Bosses" is one of those comedies like the classic "Ruthless People," in which an outrageous and dark premise works because of good writing and an ensemble that knows exactly how to handle the material for maximum comedic value. Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day play the requisite straight man, alpha male and dumbass, respectively, that male buddy comedies need, while Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston and Colin Farrell (sadly underused) play the titular bosses. All of them have a field day with their roles, and Aniston especially stands out because of the film's decision to cast her against type as a slutty, foul-mouthed sex kitten; you can almost hear Aniston sighing with relief as she gets to play something other than the cute-as-a-button girl next door.

As with most comedies, whether or not you think "Horrible Bosses" is funny will probably depend simply on whether or not you think the actors are funny. Charlie Day, for example, will likely drive some people crazy -- I thought he was hilarious.

Grade: A