Cast: Jason Batemen, Kristen Wiig, Dustin Milliagan, Ben Affleck, J.K. Simmons, Mila Kunis, Gene Simmons, Clifton Collins Jr., David Koechner, Hal Sparks, Tom Virtue
Written & Directed By Mike Judge
Cinematography By: Tim Shustedt
Editor: Julia WongNo one quite does satire or the mundaness of life like mike judge. The fun of this movie is that like his show king of the hill it involves normal characters that see so real you could swear you know someone just like each of them but he then throws these characters into increasingly outrageous situations that are believable.
The comedy is dry and subtle which is why I liked this film so much. It’s a film to discover that never goes over the edge. it’s best if you not know what happens other then. Jason Batemen’s character owns a flavor extract company and is involved in a domino effect involving lawsuits, a con woman, and his best friend a bartender.
The film is pretty cut, dry and simple it’s entertaining but not something you remember too much longer after watching it. I nice slice of life that is a good time passer. That is Funnier the more you think about it. It just never really reaches a tone or settles on a point of what it all means. It just seems random no center almost like it is meant to be a character study that is supposed to be about the workers of this factory but just becomes about Jason Bateman and his challenges.
It’s a return to form for the director as this is another workplace comedy this time it is seen more from the boss’s point of view and instead of cubicles this takes more of a look at a factory setting. What works for mike judge is that he writes movies with characters that you feel like you have meet or known in your life.
Ben Affleck returns to the screen in a role more suited for him. The supporting role the comic relief instead of the leading man can do no wrong type characters. It reminds me of his comic roles in movies like DAZED & CONFUSED
The problem with the film is that one of the main reasons things happen in this film is that Bateman’s character is trying to make a deal to sell his company. Everything that happens threatens to mess up the deal so he has to straighten things up. It drives the events of the film but is treated as a second thought then a real problem. Almost like another side story that is not interesting.
Jason Bateman’s Character is neurotic and exaggerated as a person in his position would be that you can understand if this was another filmmaker’s movie but since this is a mike judge film it seems not to fit in the laid back characters and world of this movie. In fact during this movie nothing feels like it is on the line it all feels random and inconsequential staying true to the films laid back nature
GRADE: C+
