![[box cover]](../../reviewimgs/o/officespace.jpg)
Office Space
Mike Judge's 1999 Office Space isn't just a very funny movie, it's doubtless on its way to becoming a favorite for all who have suffered the indignities of drone-like subservience to corporate America. Computer programmer Peter (Ron Livingston), like virtually everybody else in his office, lives in fear of both going to his job and losing it. However, Peter's buddies Michael (David Herman) and Samir (Ajay Naidu) seem to be coping with their menial, thankless positions better than he is, so Peter seeks out a hypnotherapist (Michael McShane) for some quick-fix relaxation. The problem is that the doctor dies while Peter is "under," leaving him in a permanently relaxed state that allows him to speak his mind at work — that is, when he can be bothered to show up. Confessing to a pair of efficiency experts hired by the company that he only works "about 15 minutes per week," Peter figures his pink slip is already in the out box. The consultants, on the other hand, figure he's not challenged enough — so they promote him to an executive position. Judge (best-known for the animated television shows Beavis and Butt-Head and King of the Hill) gets a variety of targets in his sights in Office Space and continually comes up with bulls-eyes. You name it, he slays it: the morning commute; the condescending, passive-aggressive boss; the printer that's always jammed; the arrested-development co-workers; and the annoying way that everybody prefaces unpleasant remarks with the phrase "go ahead and..." (e.g., "We're going to go ahead and wait."). But what makes Office Space special isn't just a string of gags — it's because Judge grounds his script in a common reality that many Americans understand, share, and frequently dread. Office Space is one of those comedies that will be worth watching at least once a year for your own sanity; it's also best seen with a group of downtrodden souls like yourself. Also starring Jennifer Aniston, Gary Cole, Stephen Root, Richard Riehle, and Diedrich Bader. Judge himself gets in a funny cameo as Aniston's restaurant-manager boss, credited as "William King." Good transfer, DD 5.1, very funny trailer.
—JJB
