Best comedy of the year

Rating: 8/10 (21 August 2011)

What a pleasant surprise! I went to see this movie mostly because I had my share of horrible bosses in the past and I was intrigues by the trailer. It must be noted that the three male leads are basically unknown in Europe, so it was not their star power to attract me. Neither was the presence of Spacey, Aniston or Farrell, since I am not a fan of any of them.
Since it was purely the topic that drew me in, I was very pleased by the plot. It was obviously demented and over the top, but still with a hint of realism. It is easy to argue that when you hate your boss you should find another job. Unfortunately, in times as ours, chances to find a better job are slim, while horrible bosses seem to proliferate. Therefore, it is easy to sympathize with the crazy murder attempts perpetrated by the trio of friends, with the help of their "murder consultant" (glorious idea, character brilliantly played by Jamie Foxx).
In any case, it is clear that these three guys are unable to murder anybody, so I did not see any dark undertone in the comedy. It was a long time since I laughed so much at the cinema and I appreciated almost every joke (from the build-up about Jamie Foxx character's name, to the "Gregory" development). The only part less funny, was the sex harassment plot, which Aniston played well, and very much against type. Unfortunately, playing women with a sex angle is by far the easiest choice. Choosing a different evil for the female boss, might have been a bolder challenge.