'Horrible Bosses'

'Horrible Bosses'  (R)  (3 stars)

Writers: Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein
Director: Seth Gordon
Starring: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey,
Colin Farrell, Ioan Grufudd, John Francis Daley, Donald Sutherland, Julie Bowen, Wendell Pierce, Bob Newhart

"Horrible Bosses" is a vulgar male version of "9 to 5" and it is very funny mainly because of the writing and some flawless comic acting and line delivery. The movie weakens a little in the last half hour but I laughed a lot and I cherished the acting. The movie's plot is ingenious and surefire, three men fed up with their bosses who want them killed. The women in "9 to 5" had fantasies of killing their boss, these men actually try to have their bosses killed.

Nick, Dale and Kurt each have warped bosses and they all hatch a plot to kill each other's bosses. Nick is an executive in a fast rising company and is hoping to get a major promotion. The problem is that Nick's boss is an arrogant ass and terrorizes Nick. Dale is a dental assistant who is being sexually harrassed by his female dentist boss. Kurt's friendly boss passes away and the idiot, cokehead loser son of the old boss takes over and wants Kurt to fire all the fat people. The three men go get advice from a hitman played by Jamie Foxx who gives them advice on killing their bosses.

There are a series of very funny scenes dealing with the men trying to kill the bosses and they are all expertly played out by all the actors. Jason Bateman as Nick is becoming something special with his flawless facial reactions and delivery of dialogue. He is getting so great he is even surpassing Vince Vaughn as the master of line readings. When Bateman is in a good comedy no one can touch him. Like in a scene where Nick is being questioned about driving away from a crime scene there is a perfect reaction from Bateman and it is a small moment but something I remembered days later.

There are other special comic performances like Jennifer Aniston who has her best role and movie in years. She is required to carry out some very sexual scenes but she executes them perfectly, gets big laughs and never embarrasses herself. Jamie Foxx, like Bateman, gives one of the best performances in the movie and his facial reactions and line deliveries are just as flawless and special as Bateman's.
My favorite part of the movie is when the three men get together with Foxx and talk about the plan. Foxx's character's back story and advice is extremely funny and clever. Also the name of Foxx's character can not be told here but when his name is called in simple line readings all the time it is hilarious and I laughed every time. Kevin Spacey is also perfect as the arrogant boss of Nick and Spacey can do this role in his sleep but that doesn't make his performance any less special. Also funny is a unrecognizable Colin Farrell as Kurt's boss, Farrell is becoming a great comic actor.

The movie is stolen by someone who I predict will be a major comedy star and very soon. Charlie Day, from "It's Sunny in Philadelphia" is amazing and hilarious and his reactions and handling of the sexual harrassment material is flawless. He is the outraged character who has that perfect voice where when he gets mad he sounds like he is reaching puberty. Charlie Day gives a star making and wonderful comic performance and every scene he is in and every reaction he gives is comic gold. In the end of the movie when Day shouts at his boss and gets even it is a show stopping moment that will have the crowd cheering. I loved the small moments in this movie that were subtle more than I like the physical stuff. Though I loved the best physical comedy scene where Day tries to slide under a closing garage door.

This is a movie where if the acting wasn't so great it would have failed though the first hour of the movie is very well written. The special acting carries the day and Bateman, Spacey, Day, Sudeikis (the best use of him in a movie so far) and Foxx are comic perfection. I just want to watch the movie again for the acting and some of the brilliant dialogue and that is something you can't say about most comedies these days. It is not "Bridesmaids" funny, nothing will be for awhile now, but I liked it a lot.
It at least blows away "Bad Teacher" and "Hangover 2" for good comedy and you will have a fun time. Kudos to Charlie Day and Jason Bateman, these are expert comedy actors and possible future legends.