Review of Employee of the Month (2004) by Steve H — 21 Sep 2009

Dane Cook's foray into film finds him as a slacker named Zack working at B.J.'s-like store called Super Club. In comes new employee Amy (Jessica Simpson with the most wooden acting since the invention of the tree) who is rumored to have a past sleeping with whomever wins employee of the month. And so Zack starts waking up early, cleaning spills, and well...actually working, in order to gain the affections of Amy.

Dane Cook is not a great actor, but nor are many of the comedians Hollywood wrangles up in an attempt to turn them into box-office superstars. He does however do well enough as needed playing more of the straight man role while a large supporting cast handles most of the comedy.

He's joined by a group of slacker buddies including a half-blind Andy Dick (who I found funny for once in this film) and not stoned Harland Williams who refers to Zack only as "Man" the entire film. Did they not name the character at that point in filming yet or something? Williams and Dick's line seem about 10% scripted and 90% improvised, which may or may not be a good thing.

Jessica Simpson on the other hand doesn't throw in any kind of jokes, except the one about how bad her acting is. Of course, let's not think she had to beat other actresses' out in several auditions. No, in fact the film is produced by her daddy, Joe Simpson. Yeah, another case of creating an entire film around a musician, THEN filling in the rest of the cast, crew and final script. The same can be said for Beyonce Knowles and her trainwreck "Obsessed".

So far it sounds pretty terrible minus the saving grace of the occasional humor from Cook, Williams & Dick. But what brings it up from 1 star to 3? First off is the overly ridiculous way the entire department store industry is lampooned. Wherein BJ's offer items in bulk, Super Club seems to offer them by the ton. Nobody seems to actually work except a few go-getters, aiming for employee of the month status as if it's the highest status a human can reach.

That brings us to the film's saving grace: Dax Shepard as Vince. He's the head cashier who puts on a "show" ringing items up at incredible speeds as the local women damn near wet themselves watching. He's bleached blond, his forearm's are waxed, and he's got a sidekick in Efren Ramirez (Pedro from "Napoleon Dynamite"). Frankly I could have spent another few hours just watching the odd inner workings of this relationship. It would almost be the perfect comedy if the entire film just focused on them. From their uncomfortable hugs to spending time in Vince's 1981 Honda listening to music (but refusing to let Ramirez drive, or get a ride home, or to the bus station, but he can finish listening to the song).

It seems like Dax Shepard's goal in film is to pick supporting roles in the dumbest comedies, then completely steal the show and turn what could be a horrible movie into something funny, solely because of him. I never though I'd say this, but thank you Ashton Kutcher, for giving the world Dax Shepard.

Several more supporting characters appear (possible they didn't wanna dump the whole film in Dane Cook's lap) including Sean Whalen ("Jury Duty"; "That Thing You Do") who looks more and more disturbing with age.

Don't go in expecting much, it's not great. But then Dax just KILLS every scene he's in whether it's with Cook, Simpson or the fat, black security guard Semi. And not to be forgotten, his numerous scenes with Efren "Pedro" Remirez, who even in the photo section on this page is shown being held by Dax and finding a way to make me laugh at them without even watching the film again.