Empty-headed schemers Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) and Dale (Charlie Day) are back with more vulgar comedy in Horrible Bosses 2. After trying to murder each other’s bosses in 2011, the trio start out on their own with hair-brained invention, the Shower Buddy. They soon realise they’ve been tricked into taking out a business loan by billionaire Bert Hanson (an underused Christoph Waltz) and resort to kidnapping his son (Chris Pine). New writers for the franchise John Morris and Sean Anders, who also directs, stretch the original concept very thinly. But this flimsy plot is not the worst thing about Horrible Bosses 2. That’s the jokes.
Anders’ film is plagued by bad taste humour from sexist jokes and rape gags to offensive impersonations. Much of the comedy is uncomfortable rather than funny, especially when it weaves its sexual harassment and rape humour in with with ideas about what it means to be a man. That the target of these jokes is male does nothing to make it funny.
In the wake of these tasteless gags Nick, Kurt and Dale begin to look as horrible as bad-guy Hanson. Even Bateman’s straight-man comedy is too tired to save the day. Anders delivers an energetic car chase but it’s the credit closing out-takes – much funnier than the film itself – that arrive just in time to leave a brief smile on our lips.
VERDICT: ✭ 1/5
Certificate: 15
RunningTime: 108 Minutes
Images: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc
UK Release Date: 28 November 2014
I understand your distaste of this movie, but I found a lot of the jokes funny mainly because the three characters are idiots. I’ll never understand how Charlie Day’s character got a good looking wife and had Jennifer Aniston’s character obsess over him because he was border line retarted.
I see where you’re coming from Vern – they’re very silly alright – but the characters just get on my nerves 🙂
Not a bit surprised and you verified my expectations. I’m so tired of Hollywood dishing out the same thing over and over and calling it comedy. I guess there is an audience for it though…
I’m hoping this is the last instalment in the series but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Thanks for stopping by Keith.
I enjoyed the first one – Aniston surprised me in a good way with her feisty turn – but it seems they haven’t kept a good thing going in part 2. Good read Natalie.
If you liked the first one, there’s a chance you might like this… Let me know what you think if you do see it 🙂
I actually really enjoyed this movie. Thought it took some of our favourite things from the first one but also brought in a lot of new things. I thought it was hilarious, Jason Bateman did seem a little tired but I still loved him, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day.
Glad you enjoyed it more than I did. I’m ready to see Bateman take on a different kind of role, as I agree he felt a little tired in this. Thanks for commenting.
Nataile, very good review. To me, this is just average. Laughed a few time, didn’t so much other times. This does seem way more vulgar and offensive even for an R though. Long story short, I didn’t hate but didn’t love either. It is average and totally unneeded.
Hi Jackson. I agree ‘un-needed’ is a great way of putting it. The vulgarity really put me off this one. Hopefully this will be the last Horrible Bosses offering.
No doubt this will take a ton of money and they’ll make a third one. I thought the first was pretty dire so I won’t be checking this out!
I’d say if you didn’t like the first one then this is one to avoid. Thanks for stopping by Chris, I’ll pop by your blog very soon.
Glad I skipped the screening for this then!
Did you see the first one? If you didn’t like that, this one is unlikely to impress 🙂
There was a really nasty misogynistic streak to the first one too, which I didn’t like – although I did enjoy Jennifer Aniston’s cameo. I’ll give this one a miss, it sounds terrible.
Hi Stu. The misogyny really prevented me from enjoying this one. I found Aniston’s role in this especially horrible, although to give her credit she really does get stuck into it!