Product: Office Space (1999)
Rating: 5.0
I believe you have my stapler?
When I first saw Office Space, I hated this movie. I didn't find it funny, and even though my friends jokingly referred to it as where we would be in 10 years (we were all computer engineering majors), I just hated it. The movie has since grown on me, and I think it's one of the best comedies out there.I think what really gives Office Space's it's sheer staying power is that every character is twisted. This is not your normal story with fully fleshed out, dynamic characters who seamlessly fit together. Oh, no. This is stereotypes at their best and brightest. If you've ever worked anywhere with more than 5 people, you're going to associate these stereotypes with your current and former co-workers. There's the woman who never varies from her routine, down to saying the same thing the same way EVERY time; the manager that doesn't actually listen, has the annoying facial tick/movement/phrase; the squirrelly looking mumbling guy that no one pays attention to; the stoner chick with no real life plan, and the young obnoxious guy who's sole goal is to get luck. Not every place I've worked has had everyone one of these stereotypes, but I'm sure I can place at least a couple of them at any job I've ever had.It took me a few viewings to really realize that the movie has two equally entertaining plotlines. The first is Peter, who hates his job, has a girlfriend who's cheating on him, and is always suckered into working on the weekends. We see the movie through his eyes, which has it's ups and downs, including hypnosis, slacking off work, and the new girlfriend that flips off her boss. However, the equally funny, and almost non-sequitor counter story is of Milton, office drone that's stepped on, ignored, made fun of, and worst of all, has his beloved red Swingline stapler stolen. He says so many funny things that it's worth watching the movie a couple times to really get what he's saying. And if you own the More Flair copy, it gets better.This copy was a Christmas present from the same person who gave me a red stapler for my birthday last year. While it's not loaded full of hours upon hours of special features, I did enjoy the making of featurette, where they interview the cast. You get a wider, more in-depth view of all the characters. My favorite sheds new light on Milton's line and I could see the squirrels, and they were married," which is apparently a euphemism for what he actually saw the squirrels doing. I know it's a funny thing to really gain appreciation for, but it's the bits like that line that make Office Space one of the comedy gems.Not everyone is going to like this movie. If you're one of those people who saw it once and thought it was stupid, humorless, or pointless, watch it again. You might it's not as bad as you thought it was.