Review of Office Space (1992) by Emma H — 11 Sep 2011

"The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.".

Comedic tale of company workers who hate their jobs and decide to rebel against their greedy boss.

REVIEW.

Corporate techie Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston) is just having one of those days ("The Mondays," one character describes). He works for a condescending boss (Gary Cole), and the company is in its early stages of downsizing the workforce (with the two "Bobs" John C. McGinley and Paul Willson coming in as consultants). But Peter's life changes after he undergoes hypnotherapy, and he adopts a lackadaisical approach to his boring job. And soon, with two others (David Herman, whose character has the misfortune of sharing the name Michael Bolton, and Ajay Naidu as Samir), he hatches a scheme to swindle funds from the company into three private accounts over the next two years. At the end of the 20th century, it's easy to see why "Office Space" would become a cult classic: work sucks; it's that easy. As a satire of the American workplace, circa 1999, the boredom and tediousness is captured and played to ridiculous heights. Directed by Mike Judge, who adapted it to the screen from his own animated short "Milton," "Office Space" is sure-fire comedy. The acting is OK, nothing really special, and Jennifer Aniston slides in as Peter's lovely girlfriend. Also look out for Diedrich Bader as Peter's beer-guzzling neighbor Lawrence (who Peter frequently talks to through the wall) and Stephen Root as the hapless, mumbling Milton.