DVD Review: Horrible Bosses

Release Date: October 11, 2011
Rating: R
Running Time: 98 minutes/106 minutes extended cut

Management candidate Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman) has been logging 12-hour days and eating everything his twisted supervisor Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey) dishes out, toward the promise of a well-earned promotion. But now he knows that’s never going to happen. Meanwhile, dental assistant Dale Arbus (Charlie Day) has been struggling to maintain his self-respect against the relentless X-rated advances of Dr. Julia Harris, D.D.S. (Jennifer Aniston), when she suddenly turns up the heat. And accountant Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis) has just learned that his company’s corrupt new owner, Bobby Pellit (Colin Farrell), is not only bent on ruining his career but plans to funnel toxic waste into an unsuspecting population.

What can you do when your boss is a psycho, a man-eater or a total tool? Quitting is not an option. These monsters must be stopped. So, on the strength of a few-too-many drinks and some dubious advice from a hustling ex-con whose street cred is priced on a sliding scale (Jamie Foxx), the guys devise a convoluted but foolproof plan to rid the world of their respective employers… permanently. But even the best-laid plans are only as good as the brains behind them.

Watching three average guys come together to create a scheme in order to kill their bosses after reaching the limit of being under appreciated and disrespected… this journey was just as disturbing as it was hysterical. What makes these three guys so hilarious is that they really have no idea what they are doing…so the revenge game goes array! If they thought that things were chaotic before they came together to play this out, they were completely unprepared for what came afterwards. But the crazy turns this story takes is not what keeps me tuned in. It’s the cast.

Each cast member brings their own comedic charm to this film that without them would have made this film far too crude to care to continue on. It’s not as crude as say, Bridesmaids, but the language is over the top vulgar at times. Though I must say there weren’t as many gags as I thought there would be… and most of them were not just laugh out loud worthy but all actually furthered the story along. Anyway, Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, and Jennifer Aniston make the perfect horrible bosses. Aniston’s character is especially a riot. Aniston’s chemistry with Charlie Day is perfect and makes the relationship even more hysterical. However, those familiar with Charlie Day’s character on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia may find this character of his here to be basically an extension. But I’m alright with that. Sunny fans in general may probably be okay with that as well, because that character is so lovable. The chemistry is also fantastic between Day, Jason Bateman, and Jason Sudeikis.

Too bad the film isn’t just a tad bit less vulgar, as I would love to sit with the family and watch these three actors banter back and forth. I would watch the film again with the right group of friends. Also, Jamie Foxx, Julie Bowen, Lindsay Sloane, and Isaiah Mustafa among others make appearances in the film. But let’s leave the raunchy films to Judd Apatow. Bowen, Aniston, and company are better than this. In the end, it all depends on what you like and if you don’t mind watching this extremity of horrible bosses.

Blu-ray Bonus Features:
* Extended Cut Feature Film – 8 minutes of all new hilarious moments not seen in theatres
* My Least Favorite Career
* Surviving A Horrible Boss
* Being Mean Is So Much Fun
* Making of the Horrible Bosses Soundtrack
* Deleted Scenes

Own Horrible Bosses on Blu-ray Combo Pack (Totally Inappropriate Edition), DVD and Digital Download today.

One comment

  1. I knew Horrible Bosses was going to be hilarious but it beat my expectations. There were moments where I wanted to fall to the floor in laughter. I like how unpredictable it was too. I wasn't sure if they were going to kill their bosses or not. Some good surprises. Collin Ferrel is classic, Kevin Spacey plays a great psycho and Jennifer Aniston…yeah she is just hot and was funny as h*ll. This is my favorite comedy so far this summer and I'll bet it will be other people's too.