Unabashedly funny

Horrible Bosses (2011)
Certified: 16
Duration: 98 minutes
Directed by: Seth Gordon
Starring: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx
KRS release

Horrible Bosses is a film about the workplace that does not take itself seriously; it is laugh-out-loud funny and has a very entertaining and talented cast. Under Seth Gordon’s hand, the film keeps a steady pace and has the jokes flying straight and to the mark in a very consistent manner. Who would have thought that the subject of killing one’s bosses could turn out to be such a hilariously dark comic outing.

Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) and Dale (Charlie Day) are normal men with one thing in common: they all have evil bosses which they hate with vehemence. Dale is engaged to sweet Stacy (Lindsay Sloane) and works as a dental assistant where his boss Julia (Jennifer Aniston) sexually harasses him on a daily basis. For Nick, a promotion is now way overdue, but his boss Dave (Kevin Spacey) opts to trick him and give the promotion to himself. Kurt is in middle management at a chemical plant and he is at the mercy of Bobby (Colin Farrell) who is a cocaine addict.

With jobs a bit hard to come by, the three men are at the mercies of their bosses. So they decide to get a hitman to help them get rid of their troubles. Dean Jones (Jamie Foxx) gets the job, though he takes on a “murder consultant” role. His main advice is that the three kill each other’s bosses so they would not be blamed. Comical misadventures pile up and when one of the bosses is actually murdered, it is the trio who end up under suspicion.

The film aspires and succeeds in its intention of making its audience laugh. Standing head-and-shoulders above the rest has to be Jennifer Aniston who, dyed as a brunette, plays against type. She has removed her good girl shoes and goes all out to enjoy herself as an aggressive nymphomaniac with a thing for her assistant. She really seems to be having fun as she goes all out to sex-up her character.

Kevin Spacey is used to playing a tyrant and here he does it so well. He seems to be enjoying himself ina similar fashion to his cult classic Swimming With Sharks. Meanwhile, one cannot help but smile every time Colin Farrell appears with his hair-do.

The fact that the bosses are so gleefully bad makes the film a sure-fire hit. The trio of actors: Mr Bateman, Mr Day and Mr Sudeikis manage to gel very well together in a unified performance and are believable as friends.

Mr Day in particular is simply delightful playing a scaredy-cat yet hyperactive character. Jamie Foxx is absolutely bad and seedy and he will more than elicit his fair share of giggles.

Unabashedly and naughtily hilarious, Horrible Bosses more than fulfils its promise of making its audience have a ball of a time. The film takes a great concept, runs away with it, has fun and delivers a very pleasing film.