Office Space Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: After receiving hypnotherapy, a man, who hates his job, views life in a new, profound way.

Review: There are three films that--how shall I say--pull together the collective consciousness of the '90s--maybe the millennium as a whole. Those movies being "The Matrix," "Fight Club," and, of course, "Office Space." You might be wondering, how the hell does "Office Space" relate to those two movies? Well, all three, from 1999, have a protagonist breaking the shackles of corporatism, and the nihilistic mentality that it instills, and, in the process, reaches a state of self-actualization. I won't get all pretentious and go into the philosophical aspects here, since, let's face it, "Office Space" is a comedy after all! I just wanted to highlight that, to many, "Office Space" was defining of a generation and especially the state of working...and all the soul-sucking forms it can take on. Yeeeeaaaahhh...

The story isn't as intricate as the likes of "The Matrix," but it's a lot smarter than most comedies. You have the main character, played amazingly by Ron Livingston, named Peter, who is a, self-admitted, pussy and bitch boy. I'd say his character embodies a significant number of weak-willed people who comprise society--afraid of the boss, has a cheating-bitch girl/boyfriend that walks all over them, timid, aimless, devoid of ambition or a soul, and, as Tyler Durden would say, their great depression is their lives. Thankfully, that all changes for Peter when he's hypnotized by a therapist to be in a state of relaxation. This relaxation allows Peter to see the world with clarity and to put things into genuine perspective. Peter no longer worries about the mundane, he's free of burdens, he ditches his girlfriend to ask out Jennifer Aniston, and does all the things that bring him happiness. While this is occurring, we still see the shenanigans at his job from other characters' perspectives; this serves as a beautiful contrast. Eventually Peter's company wants to layoff a bunch of employees, but he wins them over by simply being himself in the most humorous of ways. Instead of getting rid of him, the company gets rid of all of Peter's friends which leads to them installing a virus into the company's computers to steal fractions of a cent per transaction. This has the unintended consequence of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars prematurely. Fearing jail time, Peter attempts to confess, but the company is burned down by a disgruntled employee. In the end, Peter comes to terms with balancing a work life with doing what makes him happy. A sentimental enough ending but a fitting one at that.

"Totally...okay...okay..."

It's important to note that this was not, by any means, a success when it premiered. Similarly to "Fight Club," this film gained a cult following that gradually elevated it into the classic territory. In fairness, the original trailer was utterly horrendous and doesn't even come close to capturing the true spirit of the film. As a consequence of being a comedy, this isn't going to entertain everyone especially if you haven't experienced the mindless, drone-like work associated with cubicle-type jobs. But that doesn't mean casual viewers won't appreciate the jokes--they are simply more focused on office level jobs; other jobs are touched on though. The concept of "working" in general is taken to task as we see the culture as a whole mocked and scrutinized. This is why I say this film can be philosophical as it explores what humanity should be doing with their time, how to attain happiness, what is our role in this world or society, etc. In essence, the general statement would be that this not what humans were meant to do; this movie is surprisingly deeper than you would imagine. Alternatively, you can simply view the gags and situations in whatever way you please. Speaking of which, my goodness, this has to be one of the most quoted movies of all time. I am always bringing up lines from this film--definitely a top 10 most quoted from me. There are so many ingenious scenes and lines that I think people don't even realize they come from this movie. I'm not saying everything is perfect or that you will fall over laughing, as that's not this film's approach, but you will find yourself smiling quite a bit as the jokes ring true in your mind. This is the kind of comedy that stays with you long after the credits have rolled as you apply the ideas in your personal life. Ehh, it's tough to explain, but, suffice it to say, the humor is brilliantly executed. And if you don't like it, then you probably have a case of the Mondays!

Where this film truly resonates with audiences is its ability to capture the everyday annoyances and make light of them; tiny nuances, most would ignore, this film highlights with glorious delight. At the same time, this is what life was like for many in the '90s. I mean, try and tell me you haven't had a Lumbergh-esque boss who doesn't listen to jackshit you say and is going to rattle on regardless?! I know everyone has experienced that annoying, passive-aggressive bullshit where you just want to punch them in the face. Although the film has dated itself, especially in regard to the idiocy that was Y2K, most of its themes are universal nonetheless. I know plenty of people still living the "Office Space" life and it sucks--pure, unadulterated soul-crush. But the important part of this movie is reaching a kind of harmony with what you (allegedly) have to do and with what makes you happy. In other words, you can't live your life like Peter was when hypnotized, but you also shouldn't live the bitch-boy life of the old Peter.

Although "Office Space" has its faults, like all movies, none are of great detriment to the experience. The acting is perfect--the characters feel real and interesting. The average person can relate to these characters, situations, and, perhaps, apply the ideas to their own life. The atmosphere of the era is captured flawlessly which can add a bit of nostalgia to the mix as time goes on (16 years already!). Also, you will find yourself quoting dialogue often as you suddenly realize you're surrounded by similar circumstances from the film. Overall, this is an excellent film with ingenious comedy aplenty. I highly recommend checking this out. If you can, I'd further suggest studying the philosophies of this film in combination with "The Maxtrix" and "Fight Club" as you get the full scope of the '90's working class. And while you're at it..."SAY HELLO TO LUMBERGH FOR ME!"

Notable Moment: Hmm...this is extremely difficult to decide. I guess I will have to go with when Peter is being interviewed by the Bobs. Lots of great lines, banter, and nuanced details. I especially like the brazen grabbing of the water and chugging it while being interviewed.

Final Rating: 8.5/10