Office Space


"It's not just about me and my dream of doing nothing. It's about all of us. I don't know what happened to me at that hypnotherapist and, I don't know, maybe it was just shock and it's wearing off now, but when I saw that fat man keel over and die - Michael, we don't have a lot of time on this earth! We weren't meant to spend it this way. Human beings were not meant to sit in little cubicles staring at computer screens all day, filling out useless forms and listening to eight different bosses drone on about about mission statements."    - Peter


release year: 1999
genre: comedy
viewing setting: home Bluray 11/15/22 and home DVD 10/27/17 and 8/5/02

synopsis: A young, normal office worker gets fed up with the idiocy at his workplace, has a fundamental change of attitude, and starts to test the limits of what he can get away with.

impressions: Quite humorous, especially for me as a former IT worker drone. All of the things seen here are true: promotion of the useless, holding back of the useful, silly office games, evil managers, secretiveness over layoffs, and more. The main protagonist sort of decides he's had enough, and starts being as slack as he can...and then actually gets rewarded at work! It's funny as all hell. Mixed into all of this are a romance, a crazy neighbor, co-workers in similar plights, a plan to get back at the company, and more. If you've ever been frustrated by crap at the workplace, you must see this movie.

things to watch for: The photocopier meeting its fate.

acting: The three main guys did a good job showcasing different aspects of office frustration. Jennifer Aniston was okay in a supporting role. Gary Cole is great as the stereotypical clueless executive.

final word: Mandatory viewing for all who work a normal (i.e. unfair) job.

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