Extract

'Extract' (R) ***1/2

Writer and Director: Mike Judge
Starring: Jason Bateman, Mila Kunis, Kristen Wiig, Clifton Collins Jr., Gene Simmons

'Extract' sneaks up on you when you least expect it. You don't expect sharp, well written characters that are funny and endearing in a way and that is what you get. From the preview you might expect a lot of cheap jokes but this movie has heart and big laughs and not at the expense of the characters. Judge's other comedy cult classic 'Office Space' which got bad reviews and did bad business was the same. People had to catch up with it on DVD to make it a classic comedy. You might have to see this twice to appreciate the laughs because there are very funny parts and great quirky characters that are just as memorable as the Office Space ones. Jason Bateman was a child actor who made very good with sitcoms and now has emerged as a great comic actor. We are taking him for granted because his comic timing skills aren't being appreciated. He creates a character we root for and it takes great skill to pull this one off and he does it. Bateman is one of our finest comic actors. There is great support from SNL's Kristen Wiig, who I absolutely love, as his wife. Wiig I think is the Meryl Streep of comedy acting. Also good is Mila Kunis who is absolutely beautiful but has great comic skills as proven in 'That 70's Show' also. I must also mention I am not the biggest fan of Ben Affleck but he is very good and funny here and he is starting to grow on me. There is also a great small part for rock star Gene Simmons and he does an excellent job. Character actor David Koechner is also effective in essentially the role that Gary Cole provided in 'Office Space'. This is a comedy where the laughs come from the characters and situations instead of cheap jokes. When he is on the top of his game Mike Judge is very good.