Office Space (1999)

I’m starting to feel old. 2019 is the 20-year anniversary of the workplace comedy classic “Office Space”. I have always been a big fan of “King of the Hill” but not so much “Beavis and Butt-Head” so watching a Mike Judge movie is 50/50 for me going in to it. I do enjoy workplace comedy so I was pretty sure I would enjoy this one as well.

I love the opening sequence, its so boring but set to such happy music (Mambo No.8 by Perez Prado). That however would be the only joy in the movie for the next half hour. That is the entire point though, as the movie is trying to get over just how boring and drab life is working in a cubicle. The movie does a pretty good job of introducing all the characters you need to care about quickly. Milton was just bloody annoying in the beginning.

This is the first Movie of the Week where I can say undoubtedly that the middle was my favorite section. Starting from when Pete is hypnotized, and the hypnotist dies. I love how Pete just gives zero fucks and no one knows how to deal with it. The two Bobs interviewing all the employees were pretty great. John C. McGinley is always great. The montage of Pete slacking off is probably my favorite part of the show other than a few scattered jokes. It was admirable for Pete to risk losing his job to help his friends who already lost theirs, however he did go about it in the wrong way? I started to feel bad for Milton around the mid point.

Pete’s breakdown starts the third act after the realization they stole too much money and the though his girlfriend slept with his boss. While Pete, Samir, and Michael worry about what to do Milton finally snaps. A combination of his stapler being taken, not getting cake and the runaround about his paycheck. Milton gets his revenge by setting fire to the office.

Pete finds himself happy working on a construction clean-up crew. Samir and Michael get work at another company. We don’t know what happens with Joanna. Milton, the lovely bastard, found the money Pete returned and goes to enjoy a tropical holiday.  I love when they show pictures of the actors and play outtakes during the credits. When all is said and done it was a pretty funny movie.