DVD Review: Office Space (A-)

Office Space (1999)
Directed by Mike Judge
Starring Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, David Herman and Ajay Naidu
MPAA: R
Grade: A-

Review by Scott Standish

At times Office Space borders on pure comedic genius. No other comedy has such a complete grasp of how office workers feel at their daily jobs. Whether it be filling out meaningless forms, having multiple bosses, dealing with "efficiency experts" that constantly make employees re-interview for their own jobs, let's face it, working in a cubicle for a soul sucking corporation can really be depressing (especially in today's economy). Office Space nails this atmosphere with such irony and accuracy that it's amazing and hilarious at the same time.

Based on an animated short by Mike Judge (creator of King of the Hill and Beavis and Butthead), the story revolves around the life of programmer Peter Gibbons. Peter (played by Ron Livingston) works for Initech, a mind-numbingly boring technology consulting company just like about every other technology consulting company you see littering the suburban landscapes of America today. Peter hates his job and can't seem to get past it. His girlfriend takes him to a occupational hypnotherapist that hypnotizes Peter into being completely happy and without worries. Unfortunately, the therapist dies before he can snap Peter out of this nirvana-like bliss.

Peter's outlook on life is completely changed, as shown in this exchange Peter has with Joanna, a cute girl (played by Jennifer Aniston) that he has since gotten up the nerve to ask out on a date:

Peter Gibbons: I don't like my job and I don't think I'll go anymore.
Joanna: You're just not gonna go?
Peter Gibbons: Yeah.
Joanna: Won't you get fired?
Peter Gibbons: I don't know. But I really don't like it and, uh, I'm not gonna go.
Joanna: So you're gonna quit?
Peter Gibbons: Uh-uh. Not really. I'm just gonna stop going.
Joanna: When did you decide all that?
Peter Gibbons: About an hour ago.
Joanna: So you're going to get another job?
Peter Gibbons: I don't think I'd like another job.
Joanna: Well what are you going to do about money? Bills?
Peter Gibbons: You know I never really liked paying bills, I don't think I'm going to do that either.

Peter's carefree attitude actually shakes up his world for the better. He spends more time fishing with his buddy Lawrence (instead of showing up for work). The efficiency experts at Initech find the new Peter a "straight shooter" that has "executive material written all over him". His evil girlfriend dumps him, and he even begins to date Joanna, the girl of his dreams. Unfortunately, Peter's friends do not undergo hypnosis, and are stuck back in the dreary, layoff filled world of time-burglaring, cubicle-farming, report laden corporations.

There are tons of in jokes throughout Office Space, that frankly, if you have never worked in an office, you probably won't get. But if you have ever worked at a job that you hated, whether it be as a waitress (at Chotchkie's or Flinger's) or as a coder (for Initech or Initrode) you will probably find Office Space as on target as I did.

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