The first thing I thought when I saw a billboard for Horrible Bosses was, "I hope Kevin Spacey doesn't try and recreate Buddy Ackerman" -a truly 'horrible boss' and one of the greatest characters of the twentieth century. But after seeing the previews for the movie, I thought it looked funny. So, why not, right? Well, here's why:
First, on a sociological level, it makes you feel like an outcast to be sitting in a theater full of people cracking up while you stare straight ahead, and at the most, are mildly amused; laughing only when you realize everyone's laughing but you. Kind of like the same feeling you had in grade school when everyone was in hysterics and it took you a minute to realize the 'kick me' sign was on you.
Perhaps I missed the Kool-Aid stand on the way in? Are audiences as a whole really this dumb? Is just being stupid, then more stupid, the formula to a hit movie these days? If so, will the Tea Party win?
Don't get me wrong. I love comedies. But, just like horror flicks, good comedy is hard ta do. That's why there are so few of them. And, I'm sorry, just because you say 'penis' or get Will Ferrell to get naked doesn't mean I'm going to laugh. That's right. You have to earn my 'Ha!'s'.
I'm all for movies that get you to suspend your disbelief when it's done well, i.e. Something About Mary. When it's not done well you end up with turkeys like Anchorman. (A gang fight between newsmen?) Puhleeze.
Bridesmaids is filled with tons of simpleton toilet humor, but I laughed out loud several times because it was done well and Kristen Wiig was great. On the other hand, I should point out I am not a fan of the "inzanity" genre of movies like The Hangover, which spend the entire two hours in Bonkersville going from one ridiculous scenario to the next. I know I'm way outnumbered on that, so if start to finish lunacy-sans-reason is your bag, then this movie is for you.
But Horrible Bosses didn't start out that way and that's what frustrates me the most. The first ten minutes had real potential; Two guys with legitimately awful bosses anyone could identify with are stuck. But, then along comes Jennifer Aniston who plays one of the most preposterously unbelievable characters I've ever seen, even for Bonkersville,- a hot, sexy, nymphomaniac dentist who blatantly harasses her average-looking, engaged, dorky assistant on an hourly basis. Add to that the even more ridiculous reactions given by her cohort, Charlie Day, and let the inzanity begin.
Most normal guys wouldn't be able to resist at least a one-timer with their sexy boss who parades around the office half-naked, yet, this geek turns out to have the willpower of Sampson, and without a trace of inner conflict, whatsoever. (Makes you think he must be one of those guys who'll get married and, five years later, come out of the closet.) Nor does he ever do anything about said advances. Sorry, I know. I'm putting logic into a movie that only barely works when there is none. But, that's the problem with this one. It started out as a movie with some logical story lines. So why put this one in? Three writers and they couldn't think of anything else? Even for unbelievable inzanity flicks, this dentist thing was just too unbelievable.
Okay, fine. Jen is cute and sexy, and yes, Charlie Day reminds you of a young Bobcat Goldthwait and has some real funny moments, but the absolute mess this plot line makes as it continuously plods forward into more bizarre antics, turns the entire premise of the movie to crap.
The highlight of the movie is actually Jason Sudeikis. (studio note: If Ed Helms asks for too much of the net, get Sudeikis instead.) But neither he, nor Jason Bateman - who I could watch in anything -even Extract, nor a semi-funny Jamie Foxx, nor a sterotypical Kevin Spacey (no, he was nothing like Buddy Ackerman- in fact, it was almost like the writers drained every bit of substance and nuance out of Buddy, leaving only a one-dimensional 'Buddy suit' for Kevin to wear) could save this out of control, "let's be nuts for nuts' sake," gem. And poor Colin Farrell looks like he had his best stuff hit the editing room floor. It's sad when the credits are funnier than the actual movie.
And, it took three writers to write this? It took three guys to write "The Hangover" without the booze? Jeesh. No wonder they remade Footloose. Can't wait to see that.
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