Office Space.

Review #793: Office Space.

Cast
Ron Livingston (Peter Gibbons), Jennifer Aniston (Joanna), Stephen Root (Milton Waddams), Gary Cole (Bill Lumbergh), David Herman (Michael Bolton), Ajay Naidu (Samir Nagheenanajar), Diedrich Bader (Lawrence), John C. McGinley (Bob Slydell), Joe Bays (Dom Portwood), Alexandra Wentworth (Anne), and Richard Riehle (Tom Smykowski) Directed by Mike Judge (#570 - Beavis and Butt-Head Do America)

Review
Office Space is based off the Milton cartoon series by Mike Judge (who co-created one of my favorite shows, King of the Hill, but also created Beavis and Butt-Head), with Milton being a supporting character in a movie that manages to be effective at sly humor and its portrayal of the workplace that I'm sure some can relate to in any form. The cast really seem to click well, especially Livingston/Herman/Naidu, making for some fun scenes, such as when they smash a printer near the end.  Nothing in the movie seems fake or overdone, with Cole's micromanager role being especially fitting. Aniston is also a welcome part of the cast, having decent chemistry with Livingston but also seeming like the one sane individual in a movie full of quasi cynical (but enjoyable) characters. Of course, Milton (and his red stapler) stands out as well, from his glasses to the way he expresses his aggressions. I especially like when he's trying to get a piece of cake (during a birthday party), and he seems to have a piece...right up until someone tells him to pass it to the next person, while he ends up not getting a piece after all (full disclosure: I would probably have just flat out left instead of passing it on, but that's probably me being annoyed at people cutting big pieces for people with a big crowd). The movie doesn't relent on showing how inane the workplace can be, from conversations between management and workers that seem so repetitive no matter what the situation, to the lack of motivation one has to work (which is expertly addressed midway through, which get him promoted). The ending is peculiar in how abrupt it feels, but it works for a movie that takes risks and accomplishes what it wants in just under 90 minutes. I recommend this movie for anyone looking for some sly edge humor, or something different about work.

Countdown: 10, 9, 8, 7...

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Dude, Where's My Car?

Review #366: Dude, Where's My Car?

Cast
Ashton Kutcher (Jesse), Seann William Scott (Chester), Jennifer Garner (Wanda), Marla Sokoloff (Wilma), Kristy Swanson (Christie), David Herman (Nelson), and Hal Sparks (Zoltan) Directed by Danny Leiner.

Review
This movie feels like it was made on a whim, made with sub plots held together by a very loose string made (obviously) in the turn of the millennium, and because of that, this film is deeply rooted in the 2000's, nothing more, but is there any hope for this film? Maybe if you were really, really, really bored or needed 100 minutes to waste, sure. Kutcher and Scott are strangely a decent duo, only because they match in annoyance, oddly enough they remind me of a 2000's like version of Bill and Ted, which is either sickening or just sad. The jokes are hit and miss and sometimes annoying to the point where I just yell "Get to the point", which changed from a playful annoyance to an irritated yell which thankfully did not make me want to throw my hockey puck. The story is strung up easily but it feels like the jokes are the only thing making the movie last longer, which is what most would call "padding", which gets old. There's no point in judging the acting because there's not much point, but at least some comedies try to be a bit subtle, but oh well. The movie isn't "North" bad, it's around the level of "Happy Gilmore" level.

Overall, I give it 5 out of 10 stars.