Office Space (1999)

Directed by: Mike Judge | 89 minutes | comedy, crime | Actors: Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, Ajay Naidu, David Herman, Gary Cole, Stephen Root, Richard Riehle, Diedrich Bader

work sucks is the tagline of ‘Office Space’. After one look at this slogan, Joep’s books ‘How do I become a rat’ Writers, cartoon character Dilbert and television series ‘The Office’ appear on the retina. A film that evokes such associations must be funny. Especially with someone like Mike Judge, the creative brain behind Beavis and Butthead, in the director’s chair. And especially with a top comedian like Aniston in one of the lead roles

In the beginning, ‘Office Space’ picks up speed by sprinkling situations that are funny because they are taken from life. For example, Peter comes to the office excited and well – thanks to an excruciatingly long traffic jam – and he occupies his musty cubicle. Not much comes from work. Right next to him is a receptionist with a slightly too happy voice. One sad mustache after another comes by to point out memos he hasn’t read. Pseudo-psychologists ask him if he might be suffering from Monday depression. Barely ten minutes after arriving, Peter has had it all and gathers his friends for a cup of coffee in the cafe where Joanna works. Here he reveals his big dream: doing absolutely nothing for days.

Peter ends his life as a cubicle slave after his visit to the hypnotherapist. From then on, he ignores the orders of his chieftain Bill Lumbergh (Gary Cole) and his seven other owners and comes in when it suits him. He doesn’t mince words anymore and exclaims that he has never worked more than fifteen minutes a day. In short: after the visit to the hypnotherapist, Peter sees the light.

After that, not much more happens. Okay Peter and two colleagues take revenge on arch-enemy Initech Corporation. Yet that hardly produces any exciting or funny moments. For example, it is clear from the outset that the plan contains hidden flaws. Joanna appears less in the second part of the film. That’s a shame because during the fumbling of the gentlemen, the need for her fresh appearance increases. Because of the meager second piece, ‘Office Space’ collapses like a pudding. As a result, the film does not fulfill its promise of 89 minutes of laughing, screeching, roaring.

If the film is not 100 percent successful as a comedy, ‘Office Space’ is certainly not useless. For example, watch the film with colleagues. Their reactions will reveal how they experience the atmosphere at work and what their frustrations are. Who knows, you can do something with this information.