Expectation is a funny thing. Just when I wasn't expecting much from Horrible Bosses, it surprised me by being a pretty good comedy. Most of the credit for me liking Horrible Bosses goes to the cast. There is a barrage of familiar faces from TV and film including Bob Newhart (remember watching the Bob Newhart show growing up), a couple of people from The Wire, Jamie Foxx, and of course the main cast of Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, Collin Farrell (in a pretty awesome role), Jason Bateman... you get the idea.
The story of the movie is simple. It's sort of a modern take on Strangers on the Train (and it doesn't hide away from that fact) with three friends out to kill their respective "horrible" bosses and pretty much everything going wrong, or right in some cases. The film could have taken two directions. It could easily have turned into something dark, more black-comedy, but rather it stays with the juvenile comedy that is ever so popular nowadays. As much as I would have loved to see the film go dark, it does well in its present state. It's like how everyone enjoys kids using swear words in films, well the film is adults acting like kids using a lot of swear words. Obviously, the actors seem to be having more fun than the audience, but eventually it's contagious.
Performance wise, Kevin Spacey resurrects his Swimming With Sharks boss from hell, but a more somber version. Collin Farrell is brilliant, but it's becoming common now to take on over-the-top roles where the appearance of a well known actor is changed ever since Tom Cruise did it in Tropic Thunder. Jennifer Aniston brings about certain sassiness, but it was more like watching Rachel Gone Wild than anything else. Jamie Foxx was an opportunity gone waste, but then most of the fun in the movie is derived from his name which I shall not mention here. The reminder of the cast brings nothing exciting to the table, but it is fun when every few minutes you end up saying "Hey! I know him/her. They were in...(Insert TV series)".
Horrible Bosses makes for a fun movie if you are having a few beers with friends on a movie night. It's light comedy that entertains, but is equally easily forgetful.
Rating 3/5 Stars.
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