HORRIBLE BOSSES
reviewer Michael Hill
Rated: 15(UK)
Release Date: July 22nd, 2011(UK)
Director: Seth Gordon
Cast: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day , Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Horrible bosses is the story of three friends who all hate their bosses, and with give reason to, so they decide to kill them. This is a good premise for a dark comedy, and though a tad drastic it is pretty relatable for anyone who has ever worked for a boss they hated.
The three leads are Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis. Bateman has starred in several big films now such as Paul, Starsky and Hutch, Juno ect. though I have never thought he has displayed as much comedic ability on film as he was in sitcom Arrested Development. Day and Sudeikis are known pretty much primarily for their tv work; Day is an actor, writer and producer in It’s always sunny in Philadelphia And Sudeikis is a Saturday night live regular.
All three of them deliver great performances and Bateman puts in his best film role so far in my opinion. Though it’s Day who’s really shines, his comic timing and sensibilities get him the biggest laughs of the film and he pretty much steals every seen he is in.The bosses played by Kevin Spacey, Jenifer Aniston and Colin Farrell are all amusing. Aniston and Farrell both really play against type. Jamie Foxx also puts in an humourous cameo as a ‘hitman’.
Unfortunately the film doe not really deliever on it’s premise and is nowhere dark enough to be a black comedy, fortunately it is funny, very funny in fact, much better than most big budget comedies. I think my main issue with the film is that the tone is a tad too mixed and there a quite a few moments of ridiculous slapstick or pure coincidence that made me roll my eyes, like i find most mainstream comedies have. And there is also ‘wacky’ blooper reel as the credits roll, which albeit amusing I can’t help but think would have been better as a DVD special feature.
In terms of funny male-based (bromantic) comedies this is far superior to The Hangover 2, though in my opinion Bridemaids is still the best comedy film of the summer.
Rating: 3/5
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Thepeoplesmovies.com 