Horrible Bosses: Movie Review

Horrible Bosses: Movie Review

Horrible Bosses
Rating: 4/10
Cast: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudekis, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, Julie Bowen
Director: Seth Gordon
Let's face it - who hasn't thought of offing their boss in a moment of revenge and sweet justice after years of being ignored, mistreated or passed over?
Right, so it's just me then - well, that's pretty much the premise of this new comedy starring Jason Bateman.
Bateman is Nick Hendricks who despises his boss Dave Harken (Spacey) after he's passed up for promotion; his pals Dale (Day) and Kurt (Sudekis) who have issues with their bosses played by Jennifer Aniston and Colin Farrell respectively.
Perhaps Dale has it worst with his sexually suggestive and lecherous dental boss Julia (played with delicious relish by Aniston) as she's always trying to seduce him and continually sexually harasses him.
So the trio decides enough is enough and plot to off their big bad bosses to ensure their continual happiness.
But because they're inept, things go seriously awry.
Much like the film itself, to be brutally frank.
Bitterly disappointing and horribly flat at times, Horrible Bosses is crushingly unfunny which is a real shock given the talent involved. Don't get me wrong, the main trio work well and have a good dynamic but the dark comedy of this premise goes largely unexplored and becomes quite wasted as the time wears on.
Aniston clearly has fun, putting to bed the good girl image she's spent years on - and some of the language out of that potty mouthed character will surprise some and will make force casting agents to look at other darker roles for her. Spacey is menacing as one boss but Farrell's barely on screen for long enough to warrant anything more than a cameo appearance in this.
Bateman, Day and Sudekis gel well on the screen and there are some laugh out loud funny moments - but they're too few and far between for this version of the Three Stooges. Bateman and Day are the clear stand outs - with Bateman channeling his usual laconic style and Day bringing some welcome manic moments to the fore. But it's just not enough to save it.

Ultimately Horrible Bosses runs out of steam and its uninspired denouement is clearly sign posted well in advance; as an overall experience, it's one which is hollow, lacking and whilst it's not exactly a waste of all those involved, it's a shame that it couldn't be something more original and funny instead of a flat, uneven night out at the cinema.