"Horrible Bosses"
Richard's Review: 3 stars
Everyone has fantasizes about if not killing, then at least doing grievous bodily harm on an employer. The guys in "Horrible Bosses," a new comedy starring Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis, actually do something about it.
Chances are you've never had a boss as mean, manipulating or just plain odd as the bosses in this movie. These people make Genghis Khan look like an equal opportunity employer. Bateman works for Kevin Spacey, a corporate shark not above exploiting his workers and then taking a promotion and pay raise for himself. The cast's other Jason, Sedaris, is saddled with Colin Farrell, an unscrupulous coke head with a bad attitude and an even worse comb over. Finally Day works for Jennifer Aniston, a dentist who uses laughing gas as a sex toy.
All are stuck in their jobs and fed up with the daily humiliation offered in their workplaces decide to do the only thing a reasonable person would do -- kill their bosses.
OK, I was joking about the reasonable person part. Of course no reasonable person would try to hire a hit man on the Internet or break into their bosses homes looking for ways to kill them, but this is a comedy so we'll accept that. Or will we? The movie stars off strong, funny and well paced but it's central premise -- let's kill our bosses! -- seems forced and it sucks some of the funny from the middle part of the movie.
There are laughs for sure, but the bungling of the crucial set up scene left me feeling like I was watching a funny enough movie marred with a silly premise.
The cast holds up well. The Jasons bring their usual brand of well practiced funny, and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" star Charlie Day is a funny find, but thesis rises here are Farrell and Aniston. We've seen Spacey do this kind of thing before, the manic boss with no scruples (ie: "Swimming with Sharks") but his cast-mates are breaking some new ground.
Farrell throws vanity out the window to play a drug addled loser with a penchant for cocaine and masseuses. He's funny and edgy and does work here unlike we've seen before from him.
Aniston leaves her America's Sweetheart persona behind to play a foul mouthed predator with a bad habit of using gas as foreplay. If this doesn't wipe away any traces of Rachel left over from her TV work, I don't know what will.
"Horrible Bosses" is a darkly funny employee revenge film that mostly works, I just wish the motivation felt more authentic.
"Zookeeper"
Richard's Review: 3 stars
"Zookeeper," or as any Kevin James movie could be called, "Fat Guy Falling Down... A Lot," plays like "Dr. Doolittle" if "Dr. Doolittle" was a romantic comedy for kids.
James is Griffin, a schlubby zookeeper who has never really recovered from being dumped by his girlfriend (Leslie Bibb) five years earlier. When she turns up in his life again, he is determined to win her back. Problem is, he has no confidence. When the zoo animals catch wind of his dilemma they decide to help him out by becoming his life coaches. After all, animals are experts in mating.
Your enjoyment of "Zookeeper" will depend on two things. One, your tolerance for talking animals. Two, whether or not you find Kevin James charming. If your answer to either is yes, or if you are under 10 years of age, then "Zookeeper" might hold some promise for you. If not, go see "Tree of Life." It has dinosaurs but none of them speak.
"Zookeeper" carefully adheres to the Kevin James Comedy Template â„¢: goofy guys tries to get the hot girl and even though it may seem like an unlikely pairing, he's sweet and inevitably irresistible. This is basically "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" with animals and Rosario Dawson. That means it's a sweet-natured if largely forgettable. There are good messages for kids about accepting people for who they are and respect for animals, but mostly this is an old school comedy with pratfalls for the kids and a bit of romance for the parents sitting next to them in the theatre.
There are a couple of very funny scenes. There's a visit to TGIFridays that no veterinarian would condone and the monkey from "The Hangover 2" (starring in his second big film of the year! Who is this primate's agent?) has some of the film's best lines. Adam Sandler, who also produced the movie, provides the monkey voice, but also listen for the vocal work of Cher, Nick Nolte, Don Rickles and Sylvester Stallone.
"Zookeeper" is harmless family fun, with a few more giggles for the kids (who might not get the romantic stuff) than the parents (who might not care about the poop jokes). Luckily for Kevin James, and "Zookeeper's" audience almost everyone laughs when someone falls down.
"Conan O'Brien Can't Stop"
Richard's review: 3 stars
This documentary about O'Brien's 32-city pity tour after being turfed as host of The Tonight Show could more rightly be called 'Multi Millionaires Just Wanna Have Fun.'
The flame haired host repeatedly says he took his act on the road to have fun, but why doesn't look like he's having any?
Wedged between rehearsal, onstage and candid backstage footage is a portrait of a wounded man struggling with a grave personal and professional disappointment. It's like watching someone go through a bad breakup for 90 minutes, with musical numbers and the odd joke. For all showbiz aficionados but primarily for Coco completeists.
