The latest shamelessly vulgar
comedy to hit multiplexes opens by introducing its three longtime buddies at
their respective workplaces. Nick (Jason Bateman) is a white-collar
workaholic who's been slaving away for months in anticipation of a coveted
promotion. Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) is a genial employee
at a small chemical company whose fortune changes overnight when his boss
suddenly (Donald Sutherland) dies, leaving him at the unfortunate mercy of his
boss’ son, a coke-snorting, womanizing asshole (Colin Farrell) with a heinous
comb-over. Finally, Dale (Charlie Day) is an engaged-to-be-married dental
assistant who is constantly harassed by his sex-starved dentist boss (Jennifer
Aniston) — which is ironic because he’s a registered sex offender for taking a
post-carousing leak at an empty playground.
 "Pin It")
Unfortunately, that’s about
as much character development as we’re given from director Seth Gordon and a
quartet of screenwriters, none of whom seem interested in dosing this course
comedy with even a trace of empathy or feeling. The trio of one-note,
caricatured bosses fares worst of all, none more over-the-top than Nick’s boss,
of course played by a nasty Kevin Spacey, who essentially reprises his role in
1994’s Swimming with Sharks, a
sharper, darker workplace horror show.
That’s not to say Horrible
Bosses isn’t sporadically funny — Bateman, Day and Sudeikis’ deadpan camaraderie nearly compensates for
their characters’ stupid, illogical actions. Grade: C
Opens July 8. Check out theaters and show times, see the trailer and get theater details here.
