Review of Horrible Bosses (2011) by Fawn O — 03 Feb 2016

Expunging cynicism to exploit the inherent merriment in some otherwise austere circumstances, Horrible Bosses is brutally unrestrained and boisterous, especially with Charlie Day -- as per usual -- delivering nearly all of his lines by flamboyantly yelling them in constant exasperation. Although the premise heavily relies on some run-of-the-mill subject matter, the film triumphantly deviates from the familiar direction of exploits. Instead, this premise supports an angle that brings us to an entirely new level of criminal activity. In other words, your average hard-working men who deeply and passionately despise their respective bosses for reasons the audience may readily commiserate with, are finally taking matters into their own hands and they are going to do so with such extreme measures, we haven't witnessed anything like it from any of the many similar efforts involving a disgruntled working class that is just aching to air out their job-related frustrations in more inconspicuous and law-abiding schemes.

Charlie Day, Jason Bateman, and Jason Sudeikis radiate harmonious relationships that override any thinly veiled plot defects or patterned comedic structures and they are relentlessly entertaining as they devise ludicrous homicidal schemes to take out their respective bosses permanently.

Jennifer Aniston playfully immerses herself in a refreshingly novel role. Her screen personality deviates greatly from her reputation as the sweet, down-to-earth, girl-next-store type and she nearly steals the show as a nymphomaniac dentist, Dr. Julia Harris, who is determined to jump Dale's (Day) bones the moment he lets his guard down. Aniston offers a stellar and very sexy performance (even if her character's representation supports an undeniably sexist convention). Kevin Spacey, on the other hand, plays a sociopathic nightmare of a boss for Nick (Batmen), who struggles to keep his calm composure in the face of his boss's incredibly abusive antics. Colin Farrell, and this is debatable, spews some of the more amazingly horrible and politically incorrect lines in the film because he absorbs a role so despicably terrible, if he were your boss, you just might want to whack him too, but not before he trims the fat!

No matter how utterly awful these bosses are, you'll be delightfully entertained when Day, Bateman, and Sudeikis reach their wits end and begin plotting their poetic justice! There's nothing more satisfying than seeing a personal fantasy be executed on the big screen for your viewing pleasure.

[C+] -- 64%.