Balanced Casting: Bosses Better Be Nice!

Rating: 8/10 (10 July 2011)

Everyone who has ever worked can sympathize with having a boss that is horrible to be around. If not, everyone at least has someone in his or her life that makes life hell. Director Seth Gordon ("Four Christmases") has exploited this idea in the perfectly casted, logically over-the-top, daydream comedy "Horrible Bosses". The exposition of the film is very intelligent establishing the relationship a trio of friends has with their respective bosses. Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman, "Paul") works at a large corporation burning the candle on both ends in order to receive a promotion from his boss Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey, "Casino Jack"). However, Harken is unequivocally evil and absorbs the position instead of giving Nick the job. When Nick tries to quit, Harkin threatens to ruin his life. Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis, "Hall Pass") has a similar problem at a chemical plant when his boss Jack Pellit (Donald Sutherland, "The Mechanic") dies, leaving his crazy, coked up son, Bobby (Colin Farrell, "The Way Back"), as the new boss. Conversely, Dale Arbus (Charlie Day, "Going the Distance") is a dental assistant to the overly nice and inappropriately sexy Dr. Julia Harris (Jennifer Aniston, "Just Go With It"). After Julia blackmails him into not telling his fiancé that she is trying to sleep with him, Dale solidifies a scheme with Nick and Kurt to kill their bosses. With the help of proclaimed murder expert, Dean "MF" Jones (Jamie Foxx, "Due Date"), nothing could go wrong as they challenge the limits of comedy procuring a belly full of laughs.
Finally a great movie idea hasn't been wasted on a slapdash script, poor directing, and unworthy actors. Instead Director Gordon and his screenwriters have contrived a new kind of buddy comedy so ridiculous everyone can relate to it. This is achieved by the smartest casting of the year seamlessly balancing the star power of the protagonists (Bateman, Sudeikis and Day) and antagonists (Spacey, Farrel, and Aniston). Both parties are worthy of the audience's attention with each star distinguishing his or her self from the other with a unique formula of hilarity. TO make things even better Jamie Foxx can do no wrong with his portrayal of murder consultant MF.
Everything is very smooth throughout the majority of the film until the climax is reached and the resolution takes place. Gordon directs a very clever film up to this point connecting all of the characters and expressing the audience's concerns, but when it begins to conclude the film is very lazy. A disconnect sets in that is not necessarily cliché, it just should have been much better. Also, Jennifer Aniston's sexual performance is so over-the-top viewers will either love it or hate it.
"Horrible Bosses"' perfect balanced casting blends acting veterans with up-in-coming comedic stars to create a film that connects with the audience through awkward situations and laugh out loud humor. Bosses beware, you better be nice!