Same tone as The Hangover, funny though.

Rating: 7/10 (11 September 2012)

Ever since 'The Hangover' stormed the box office a few years ago, the stock of the screwball adult comedy has risen significantly. If there's any film that in terms of tone Horrible Bosses could be compared to, then it's most definitely Todd Phillips' tale of drunken memory lapse in Las Vegas. How you feel about that film might determine whether your'e going to get much further than this sentence, for the characters and situations in Horrible Bosses are every bit as ridiculous as their hungover cousins. What this film has in it's favour however is three star studded horrible bosses all given full licence to indulge their inner over-actor. Kevin Spacey gleefully turns on the manipulation as Jason Bateman's nasty boss, Jennifer Aniston revels in sexing things up as Charlie Day's nymphomaniac dentist boss while Colin Farrell rounds things off a sleazy Tony 'Scarface' Montana wannabe and boss to Jason Sudeikis. All three bring a huge amount of enjoyment while clearly relishing the opportunity to let rip. As was the case in The Hangover, the further things progress, the more outrageous they become but it's clear from early on that this is the tone and despite the madcap antics, there are laughs aplenty. This isn't a film that people are going to be talking about for weeks afterwards, you might forget it and see it again on TV again in a few years only to remember that you found parts of it funny, but while it's on, it's perfectly good fun. While not as smart or incisive as say 'Office Space', it isn't without merit and will work well for anyone after indulging a spot of brainless knockabout comedy.