Office Space

1999’s Office Space, written and directed by Mike Judge.

Starring Ron Livingstone, Jennifer Aniston, Ajay Naidu, David Herman, Gary Cole, Richard Riehle, Dierdrich Bader, John C. McGinley, Paul Wilson, Todd Duffey, Orlando Jones, Joe Bays, and Stephen Root.

What is it about?

Computer software engineer, Peter (Ron Livingstone), and his work buddies, Michael Bolton (David Herman) and Samir (Ajay Naidu), are stuck in the ruts of their jargon filled corporate cubicle centred jobs. They report to a variety of hacks (Gary Cole, Richard Riehle, John C. McGinley, and Paul Wilson), and one day, after undergoing hypnotherapy, Peter has an epiphany. He stops regularly reporting to work, devises a scheme to rip the company off, and boldly asks out cute waitress, Joanna (Jennifer Aniston). With his life fully set on zero effs given- will he be able to get away with it?

Why is it worth seeing?

Office Space is a comedy for anyone who’s ever felt the ridiculous banality of corporate workplaces- which is pretty much every single person on the planet. Writer/Director Mike Judge hilariously plops us right in the middle of employment purgatory: commuting bumper to bumper, working with and for obnoxious dweebs, and that lingering doubt that you may be suited for something not so closely resembling hell- not to mention poorly functioning (and ill fated) fax machines.

Behind the broad and more obvious tropes (the boss who can’t be bothered to wait to listen to your reply to his questions, management re-sending memos that you don’t need, and being required to wear ridiculous uniforms to work), Judge also does a wonderful job depicting the little things- like that door that gives you your daily jolt of static electricity.

It’s an amusing depiction of the American Dream’s rotting how-to manual- that if you play by the rules and fulfill your duties, you too, can become successful. But what’s brilliant is Peter’s actions after his moment of clarity. Deprived of incentive and stripped of pride, he just stops caring- and is rewarded for it. The results are thrilling, and share a little of the masculine empowered vibes of another 1999 anti corporate film- Fight Club.

To be clear, this is no Fight Club. The intoxicating highs of Peter’s plans prove short lived, as “reality”, always a subjective and nebulous term in the midst of a fictional comedy, intrudes, and crises intervene unnecessarily, that of the boys feeling their plan has failed in being too successful, and in Peter and Joanna having conflict in their relationship. It really brings the hilarious anti reality to a halt, and descends to lecturing about adult responsibility. It’s a poor choice (choices?) that take away from the inspired potential of the film’s set up. But don’t ask me- apparently Mike Judge didn’t care for the last third of the film either.

Possessing ultra familiar and amusing scenarios and ludicrously possible dream-like solutions, Office Space has a glorious run time (89 Minutes!) but disappointing follow through- much like that dreaded company fax machine.

Rating:

3.5/5

Trailer: Click Here.