Product: Office Space (1999)
Rating: 5.0
Anyone with a rotten job will love this film
This film is probably one of the top ten funniest films I have ever seen. If you work in one of the millions of cubicals in America doing meaningless paperwork for a stupid boss and dealing with idiots for co-workers, you will find this movie hilarious.Each character will remind you of someone you have worked with in your life (or maybe remind you of yourself). Peter (Ron Livingston) is a computer programmer who puts in endless hours at a job he doesn't like. He is asked by his many bosses to remember the TPS reports need to be done a certain way. What these reports are, no one seems to care. They just have to include a cover letter. His 2 best friends at work struggle with a copymachine that eats their papers. Some of his other collegues dream of making it big and leaving the company. Some have been beaten down so long by corporate culture that they go a bit nuts. Milton is a freakish little man who keeps getting moved to a worse desk. Milton mumbles and slowly plots his revenge. Will he have the guts to do it?The boss, Lumbergh (Gary Cole) is a total jerk played with an uncany resemblance to every idiotic "manager" I've ever had. He swills coffee, talks about 'mission statements', and basically cannot manage anything. His "M-Kay" response to everyone is about all he can say coherently.There is a nice subplot with Jennifer Annison as Peter's girlfriend who labors unhappily at her job as a waitress. Even in the service industry, the workers are subjected to their own moronic co-workers and judgemental bosses. The only one happy with his job seems to be Peter's neighbor who works outside in the fresh air as a construction worker.The movie has many themes. I know some will dismiss this as a light comedy, but I feel you can read into things. Peter's lapse from good employee mindlessly droning on to a man who does his best to be fired, yet becomes promoted is very ironic. "The consultants" in the film remind me of other corporate types who really haven't a clue how to fix a darn thing.This is a funny film. You will be quoting it for days after!But, I urge you, if you have seen it on tv in its edited form, you have not seen the full story. Every time I caught it on tv, major scenes were cut off and I didn't quite get it. You have to see it on DVD or video. It is worth every penny.