What do you do when your boss is, well, let’s just say it…horrible? Horrible Bosses tackles this issue as three hard-working men try to figure out what they should do about their bosses.
The Characters
Nick (Jason Bateman) is dealing with a difficult situation. He works hard and has been under the impression he is up for a promotion. But his boss Mr. Harken (Kevin Spacey) thinks otherwise. Harken is an egomaniacal man who abuses his staff.
Dale Arbus (Charlie Day) is a dental assistant with a precarious past. He has been labeled a “sex offender” because he peed in a vacant playground. His boss, Doctor Julia Harris (Jennifer Aniston), is a sex maniac and is harassing him every day.
Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis) loves his boss Jack Pellit (Donald Sutherland) but when Jack dies, Kurt is left dealing with Bobby Pellit (Colin Farrell) who has no regard for his employees or anyone other than himself.
The Situation
The three men decide to hire someone to kill their bosses. They take the advice of a man named MF Jones (Jamie Foxx). For the sake of propriety I will let you guess what the “MF” stands for. Taking a clue from the old Alfred Hitchcock film Strangers on a Train, the three men decide to kill each other’s bosses.
They start staking out the intended victims to figure out the best way to kill the bosses. But do these mild-mannered men have what it takes to do the deed?
The Movie
The story is a bit weak and at times not up to snuff, but the actors are the salvation. Jennifer Aniston is definitely not playing a version of her Friends character. She is a wacky sex addict who does unspeakable things not only to her assistant but also to her patients.
Kevin Spacey is wonderful as the brutal boss who not only has to deal with his employees but also his jealousy of other men when it comes to his wife.
And Colin Farrell is, well, quite wicked as the man who has no interest in anything or anyone other than himself.
Those are the bosses. The employees are just as well cast. While the actors are enjoyable, the story is not horrible, but not fabulous either. It’s just a somewhat cute, middle-of-the-road movie.
The Combo Pack
The Totally Inappropriate Edition Combo Pack includes a Blu-ray disc of the Totally Inappropriate Edition, a Blu-ray disc of the theatrical Version along with special features, a DVD with the theatrical version and the Warner Bros. Ultraviolet Digital Copy.
Bonus features include the actors discussing their roles as “horrible bosses,” and a look at the actors who play the scheming employees.
- Horrible Bosses: Totally Inappropriate Edition Combo Pack
- Studio: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
- Rated: R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, and some drug material
- Theatrical Version running time: 98 minutes
- Extended Cut edition: 106 minutes
