Mike Judge does it again. The writer-director behind one of the biggest comedy cult classics, Office Space, rises to the top of his field yet again with the new comedy, Extract. A heartfelt story and whip-smart dialogue again showcase Judge's ability to transform life's mundane experiences into comedy gold.
The story makes a few nods to its famed predecessor. Joel, played by Jason Bateman (of the too-smart-for-TV series Arrested Development), is grappling with the proverbial mid-life crisis: unhappiness plagues him both at work and at home. When tempted by a beautiful scam artist named Cindy (played by Mila Kunis of Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and encouraged by his wacky, forever-stoned bartender friend, Dean (Ben Affleck), Joel takes matters into his own hands and briefly rebels against his company and potentially unfaithful wife (Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live). Just like Office Space, Extract tackles, in hilarious fashion, the trials and tribulations of the white-collar work force - but that's not where the similarities end.
Office Space fans will definitely recognize Judge's directorial style in Extract. For one, the whole look of the film is very characteristic - clear, crisp cinematography coupled with bright, punchy colors and camera angles that put the interactions of the characters at center stage. At the same time, more than a few sequences are undeniably reminiscent of their counterparts in Office Space - the most notable being a scene involving a conveyer belt gone awry, undoubtedly framed after Office Space's famous and often parodied beat-down of the copy machine.
While Judge succeeds at creating a film that's incredibly fun to watch, he soars at crafting characters that are honest depictions of the annoying and frustrating people we find ourselves in contact with everyday. The lazy, self-righteous, gossipy employee and the chatty-to-the-point-of-harassment neighbor top the list of "I totally know someone like that" characters. The leading cast is just as comical. Bateman takes cues from the subtle, brainy humor that made him a bona fide star on Arrested Development and perfects it here. Wiig also is a pitch-perfect pick for Joel's sweatpants-loving wife. Alongside Andy Samberg, Wiig is responsible for re-energizing a failing SNL, and in Extract, she proves she can maintain her chops for longer than just a few sketches. Kunis, though second-billed, plays a surprisingly minimal role, but she scores a few big laughs regardless. Affleck, however, is the real show stealer. His character's ridiculous one-liners and drug-influenced, harebrained advice provide the most sidesplitting moments. The core driving force of the film is the many conversations between Dean and Joel at the hotel sports bar, where Joel goes to figure out, usually haphazardly, his next step.
In today's tough job market, a film like Extract or Office Space is just what we need. Too often, we get too bogged down on what agitates or bores us about our jobs or lives. With the brilliant comedic turns of Bateman, Wiig and Affleck, Judge tackles head-on the complaints of the professional workingman and reminds him that occasionally he just has to laugh at himself.
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