Everyone has had a bad boss – someone who didn't seem to know what they were doing, promised a promotion but passed you up for it, promoted themselves, ignored you, stepped on you, never really worked, or worse. It's a cliché at this point. And this is why Horrible Bosses is both refreshing and kinda stale all at the same time. The film centers on three friends – Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day – who conspire to kill their terrible bosses (who commit the offenses noted above, and worse), but find out it's much easier said than done. The film certainly doesn't tread any new ground. It also steals bits from other movies quite often. Hell, the film even opens and closes using the same song that opens and closes I Love You, Man. But Horrible Bosses is cathartic and entertaining as hell to watch hnonetheless
The film's biggest flaw is that it simply isn't edgy or dark enough. The film treads over some pretty brutal territory to deliver a heaping helping of sitcom-style gags, set pieces and cheap laughs. Our characters aren't always that likeable, either. We're never given much time to see them grow before the whole "bad boss" theme kicks into high gear (during the opening credits). And editing feels a bit sloppy, especially in the extended cut. As such, the film almost plays like a random assortment of deleted scenes from other movies loosely taped together by a paper-thin plot. Never do we feel like our heroes are actually going to go through with it, nor do we feel much danger.
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Another slight annoyance is the lack of any real development for our villains, played by Kevin Spacey (looking damn creepy), Jennifer Aniston (looking damn sexy) and Colin Farrell (looking damn ugly). Each character is a thinly crafted one-note joke, and while the gags are very funny, I couldn't help but want to see the motivation behind each character's madness. We get a small glimpse into each of their worlds, but it's only a taste of the comedic (and dramatic) potential.
Horrible Bosses is really a film that succeeds because of its dynamic cast. Sudeikis, Bateman and Day have great chemistry and play off one another quite well. There's not a single moment that goes without a laugh when these guys stick themselves in a situation they should not be in.
Everyone has had a bad boss – someone who didn't seem to know what they were doing, promised a promotion but passed you up for it, promoted themselves, ignored you, stepped on you, never really worked, or worse. It's a cliché at this point. And this is why Horrible Bosses is both refreshing and kinda stale all at the same time. The film centers on three friends – Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day – who conspire to kill their terrible bosses (who commit the offenses noted above, and worse), but find out it's much easier said than done. The film certainly doesn't tread any new ground. It also steals bits from other movies quite often. Hell, the film even opens and closes using the same song that opens and closes I Love You, Man. But Horrible Bosses is cathartic and entertaining as hell to watch nonetheless.
The film's biggest flaw is that it simply isn't edgy or dark enough. The film treads over some pretty brutal territory to deliver a heaping helping of sitcom-style gags, set pieces and cheap laughs. Our characters aren't always that likeable, either. We're never given much time to see them grow before the whole "bad boss" theme kicks into high gear (during the opening credits). And editing feels a bit sloppy, especially in the extended cut. As such, the film almost plays like a random assortment of deleted scenes from other movies loosely taped together by a paper-thin plot. Never do we feel like our heroes are actually going to go through with it, nor do we feel much danger.
.jpg)
Another slight annoyance is the lack of any real development for our villains, played by Kevin Spacey (looking damn creepy), Jennifer Aniston (looking damn sexy) and Colin Farrell (looking damn ugly). Each character is a thinly crafted one-note joke, and while the gags are very funny, I couldn't help but want to see the motivation behind each character's madness. We get a small glimpse into each of their worlds, but it's only a taste of the comedic (and dramatic) potential.
Horrible Bosses is really a film that succeeds because of its dynamic cast. Sudeikis, Bateman and Day have great chemistry and play off one another quite well. There's not a single moment that goes without a laugh when these guys stick themselves in a situation they should not be in.
The supporting cast is pretty darn terrific, too. Colin Farrell nails the cokehead pampered son of the owner. Aniston is clearly having a blast playing the uber-horny sexpot. And even Spacey seems to really be enjoying his return to the character he created in Swimming with Sharks. Jamie Foxx also chimes in with a quick, but funny role as a con artist who tells our hapless morons how to kill someone.
Horrible Bosses is not a great comedy, but it's still worth a look. It feels as though a sharper, darker, funnier film was hidden underneath the somewhat one-note exterior, but what we get in its place isn't so bad.
The film's biggest flaw is that it simply isn't edgy or dark enough. The film treads over some pretty brutal territory to deliver a heaping helping of sitcom-style gags, set pieces and cheap laughs. Our characters aren't always that likeable, either. We're never given much time to see them grow before the whole "bad boss" theme kicks into high gear (during the opening credits). And editing feels a bit sloppy, especially in the extended cut. As such, the film almost plays like a random assortment of deleted scenes from other movies loosely taped together by a paper-thin plot. Never do we feel like our heroes are actually going to go through with it, nor do we feel much danger.
.jpg)
Another slight annoyance is the lack of any real development for our villains, played by Kevin Spacey (looking damn creepy), Jennifer Aniston (looking damn sexy) and Colin Farrell (looking damn ugly). Each character is a thinly crafted one-note joke, and while the gags are very funny, I couldn't help but want to see the motivation behind each character's madness. We get a small glimpse into each of their worlds, but it's only a taste of the comedic (and dramatic) potential.
Horrible Bosses is really a film that succeeds because of its dynamic cast. Sudeikis, Bateman and Day have great chemistry and play off one another quite well. There's not a single moment that goes without a laugh when these guys stick themselves in a situation they should not be in.
Everyone has had a bad boss – someone who didn't seem to know what they were doing, promised a promotion but passed you up for it, promoted themselves, ignored you, stepped on you, never really worked, or worse. It's a cliché at this point. And this is why Horrible Bosses is both refreshing and kinda stale all at the same time. The film centers on three friends – Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day – who conspire to kill their terrible bosses (who commit the offenses noted above, and worse), but find out it's much easier said than done. The film certainly doesn't tread any new ground. It also steals bits from other movies quite often. Hell, the film even opens and closes using the same song that opens and closes I Love You, Man. But Horrible Bosses is cathartic and entertaining as hell to watch nonetheless.
The film's biggest flaw is that it simply isn't edgy or dark enough. The film treads over some pretty brutal territory to deliver a heaping helping of sitcom-style gags, set pieces and cheap laughs. Our characters aren't always that likeable, either. We're never given much time to see them grow before the whole "bad boss" theme kicks into high gear (during the opening credits). And editing feels a bit sloppy, especially in the extended cut. As such, the film almost plays like a random assortment of deleted scenes from other movies loosely taped together by a paper-thin plot. Never do we feel like our heroes are actually going to go through with it, nor do we feel much danger.
.jpg)
Another slight annoyance is the lack of any real development for our villains, played by Kevin Spacey (looking damn creepy), Jennifer Aniston (looking damn sexy) and Colin Farrell (looking damn ugly). Each character is a thinly crafted one-note joke, and while the gags are very funny, I couldn't help but want to see the motivation behind each character's madness. We get a small glimpse into each of their worlds, but it's only a taste of the comedic (and dramatic) potential.
Horrible Bosses is really a film that succeeds because of its dynamic cast. Sudeikis, Bateman and Day have great chemistry and play off one another quite well. There's not a single moment that goes without a laugh when these guys stick themselves in a situation they should not be in.
The supporting cast is pretty darn terrific, too. Colin Farrell nails the cokehead pampered son of the owner. Aniston is clearly having a blast playing the uber-horny sexpot. And even Spacey seems to really be enjoying his return to the character he created in Swimming with Sharks. Jamie Foxx also chimes in with a quick, but funny role as a con artist who tells our hapless morons how to kill someone.
Horrible Bosses is not a great comedy, but it's still worth a look. It feels as though a sharper, darker, funnier film was hidden underneath the somewhat one-note exterior, but what we get in its place isn't so bad.
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