Today’s quick review: Office Space. Peter (Ron Livingston) feels trapped in his white collar job at Initech. His days are spent filing meaningless paperwork and catering to the whims of his obnoxious boss Lumbergh (Gary Cole). But after a vicious round of layoffs, Peter and his friends Michael (David Herman) and Samir (Ajay Naidu) reach their limit. Together they hatch a plan to get their revenge on the company and get rich doing so.
Office Space is a comedy that lampoons the banality of corporate America. Office Space features observant humor, memorable dialogue, and bitingly effective characters. The film perfectly captures the petty frustrations of office life, from the annoying behavior of coworkers to the passive-aggressive tactics of management. Everything is tied together by Peter’s own, relatable struggles and his dream of doing nothing at all.
Office Space’s humor walks the line between dry observation and overt comedy. The gags are lively enough to actually be funny and not just clever, but the movie never abandons its straight presentation and sense of the mundane. Much of the movie’s strength comes from its characters, well-drawn caricatures of the white collar world. Its broad supporting cast captures a familiar range of personalities, each with just enough of a twist to feel original.
Office Space is an impressive comedy and well worth a watch for anyone in the right mood. Office Space delivers exactly what it promises: a bleak yet entertaining look at the American workplace. For a similar employee-boss relationship with a criminal twist, check out Swimming with Sharks. For a movie that channels office frustrations into violence, check out Wanted.
7.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for keen humor and iconic dialogue.