Taking the mundane and making it hilarious is not an easy task but Mike Judge manages to pull it off with Office Space. What could be more mundane than a bunch of guys who simply go to work every day in their nondescript, cubicle-filled hell? But there is comic gold to be mined here and Judge finds it. Inside this seemingly ordinary office are characters you can root for, characters you can root against and characters who just make you laugh. Anyone who has ever worked in an office will sympathize with the characters in this movie. Over and over again you'll find yourself saying, "it's funny because it's true." What sets Office Space apart from many lesser comedies is that the film is not just a series of loosely connected jokes and gags. There's an actual plot here, one that draws you in and makes you have genuine feelings for the characters. Ron Livingston plays the central role of Peter, the guy so fed up with his job and his life in general that he says every day is the worst day of his life. But then something happens which changes Peter's attitude and sets the movie in motion. He stops caring about what he's supposed to do and just does what he wants to do. Hilarity ensues. As Peter's situation takes a turn for the better, his two closest friends at the office see their outlook darken. David Herman as Michael Bolton (no, not THAT Michael Bolton) and Ajay Naidu as Samir do a great job of portraying the oppressed, beaten-down guys who do their job well and see no reward. It's easy to root for these guys as they seek revenge on their tormentors and their reactions as their plot unravels are priceless.
In the critical role of the rather useless and incredibly annoying middle manager, Lumbergh, Gary Cole is terrific. The droning delivery of his lines is always good for a laugh and it easy to see why he is despised by those around the office who actually do the work while he wanders around drinking coffee. Stephen Root as the mumbling, disrespected Milton is a treat as well, perhaps the most memorable character of all. And yes, there is Jennifer Aniston too, playing the waitress who Peter is in love with even though he doesn't even know her. Her performance is fine, but she doesn't do anything any number of less famous actresses could have done. Really she's there just for the sole purpose of having a big name in the cast and doesn't really help or hurt the film in any way. While he might not have the big name it is really Ron Livingston's movie. He's the central character and everything that happens, except maybe for Milton who is off in his own little world, swirls around him. For the movie to work, Livingston's performance has to be spot-on and it is. With a terrific supporting cast around him and some inspired comic situations to work with the whole thing comes together rather nicely. It takes a little while to get going and in showing how mundane office life can be there are some unavoidable lulls here and there. It's not laugh-out-loud hilarious all the way through but once Office Space picks up some steam and really takes off it's a winner.
In the critical role of the rather useless and incredibly annoying middle manager, Lumbergh, Gary Cole is terrific. The droning delivery of his lines is always good for a laugh and it easy to see why he is despised by those around the office who actually do the work while he wanders around drinking coffee. Stephen Root as the mumbling, disrespected Milton is a treat as well, perhaps the most memorable character of all. And yes, there is Jennifer Aniston too, playing the waitress who Peter is in love with even though he doesn't even know her. Her performance is fine, but she doesn't do anything any number of less famous actresses could have done. Really she's there just for the sole purpose of having a big name in the cast and doesn't really help or hurt the film in any way. While he might not have the big name it is really Ron Livingston's movie. He's the central character and everything that happens, except maybe for Milton who is off in his own little world, swirls around him. For the movie to work, Livingston's performance has to be spot-on and it is. With a terrific supporting cast around him and some inspired comic situations to work with the whole thing comes together rather nicely. It takes a little while to get going and in showing how mundane office life can be there are some unavoidable lulls here and there. It's not laugh-out-loud hilarious all the way through but once Office Space picks up some steam and really takes off it's a winner.