Review of Extract (2009) by Paul S — 25 Sep 2011

Mike Judge has scored again. Extract is twisted, slightly disturbing, and quirky, yet it has a certain amount of heart. It's one part 'Office Space', one part 'My Name Is Earl' (thanks to Bateman's supporting cast), and one part 'Arrested Development.' Audiences can't help but feel sorry for Joel (Jason Bateman), as he tries to keep his life in order. He's on the verge of a major deal with General Mills to buy out his company, all the while dealing with a widening gap in his relationship with his wife. That widening gap is ultimately what leads to the larger storyline.

'Extract' isn't likely to get a lot of acclaim, being an indie film. Yet the cast reads like a who's who ironically enough. J.K. Simmons (Spiderman 1 - 3), Ben Affleck (Daredevil, Pearl Harbor, The Town, etc.), and Mila Kunis (Family Guy, That 70's Show, Black Swan) are wonderful supporting cast throughout the story. The one major downfall of the story is that it takes a while for Cindy (Mila Kunis) to be tied into the overall plot. There's also Joel's overly annoying neighbor, who can easily be compared to a certain boss in Mike Judge's other riotous movie, 'Office Space.' He's so annoying that fans can't help but laugh.

Extract has shown that Mike Judge is among the elite of Hollywood's comic writers and directors. Given, it's a movie that may only appeal to a certain audience. But then again, so many movies have become like that. That being said, in a time when Hollywood has become so stale and trite with nothing but sequels, prequels, and remakes, Mike Judge has created a movie that'll be remembered as one of the most original stories to ever grace the big and small screen.