‘Horrible Bosses’ hires the laughter

By Gus Bode

3 1/2 out of 5

What do you get when you mix a psycho, a man-eater, a tool and the three middle-aged men who work for them? The funny, dirty and poorly named movie, “Horrible Bosses.”

The Warner Bros. film opened with a  $28.1 million in the box offices Friday. “Horrible Bosses” revolves around an idea many average people have had: killing the people who run the workplace and make it a living hell.

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After a drunken night of ‘what if?’ the trio Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) and Dale (Charlie Day) plot to murder their superiors. The trio, similar to the team in “Hangover,” work well and play on each other’s strengths. The three certainly wouldn’t make it in the hit man business.

The pathetic, victimized employees, the truly terrible bosses and the disorganization of the main characters’ plot to kill their bosses and their attempt to follow through with it come together for a great comedy.

The bosses display impressive yet horrible and vile behavior. The performances are strengthened by the actors who portray them.

Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey) is an extremely vindictive and sadistic man who likes to toy with his middle manager Nick. As shown in “American Beauty,” Spacey has a knack for roles in which he holds others in contempt and takes delight in humiliating them.

Bobby Pellitt (Colin Farrell, almost unrecognizable), is the definition of a tool. He takes over the company where Kurt works after his father Jack (Donald Sutherland) dies and uses his new-found power to support a lavish, coked up lifestyle.

Jennifer Aniston plays a sex-crazed man-eater, Dr. Julia Harris, with the hots for her engaged dental assistant, Dale. She wants him and is determined, so she indulges in overly blatant sexual harassment that’s hard not to laugh at. This crass and hilarious role is quite the opposite of her otherwise good-girl “Friends” image.

After Nick, Dale and Kurt decide to follow through with their murder plot, they meet and hire a man (Jamie Foxx) with the last name Jones and a first name that is well, too inappropriate for print. Foxx is hired as the hit man under false pretenses and becomes a “consultant” for the slapstick comical trio.

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Spacey and Aniston are the comedic gems of this film. Aniston’s timing and hilarious, over the top sexual hunger is shocking at first but works well with the other actors and storyline. Spacey’s portrayal of the psycho boss is spot on and believable without being too over the top.

If you’re looking for something to do in this heat, go see “Horrible Bosses.” The dirty jokes and antics will make you laugh and feel for the employees of the bad bosses. There’s no need to fire this flick.

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