Movie Review: Horrible Bosses 2

Horrible Bosses 2 (2014): Dale, Kurt and Nick decide to start their own business but things don't go as planned because of a slick investor, prompting the trio to pull off a harebrained and misguided kidnapping scheme.

Is this movie the exact same as the first one? Yes. Does it matter? No.

Ok so I loved the first Horrible Bosses. I thought the chemistry of Sudeikis, Bateman, and Day was fantastic, and Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Anniston, and Colin Ferrell were great as the big mean bosses. And Jamie Foxx was screen-hogging like nothing else and it was hilarious. I thought there was great symbolism and appeal for the working class American in it. After all, who doesn't have or has never had at one point one of those three bosses? I know I have, and I am 22. We all have had to take orders from someone who is either illogically strict, a crackhead, or overly sexual. And it made the first Horrible Bosses great. Sadly, the main theme of the bosses is gone here and replaced by Christoph Waltz and Chris Pine screwing over our three "beloved" characters. However, the chemistry between Sudeikis, Bateman, and Day is back and better than ever. While it is basically the exact same plot as the first one, fans of the original Horrible Bosses, such as myself, will feel right at home seeing those three get into their antics on screen. So, let's dive into it shall we?

The acting is....well, decent at best. Christoph Waltz unfortunately has very little to do here. I was hoping to see a comedic side to this great actor that we had never seen before, but sadly it's just the same Waltz we've seen before which makes him rather out of place honestly. That said, Chris Pine though. Easily the best acted role in the film, Chris Pine has an absolute blast as Rex, the kidnapped son of Waltz, creating a surprisingly well-developed character throughout the 108 minute film. And remember when I said Jamie Foxx screen-hogged the crap out of the first one? Well, he's back, and he takes screen-hogging to a whole new level in Horrible Bosses 2. Fortunately this is a very good thing as the big scene involving his character MF Jones is probably the best scene of the whole movie. Of course it also is the best scene of the whole movie because of the chemistry between Sudeikis, Bateman, and Day. Seriously. I want more movies with these three as the leads. It doesn't have to be another Horrible Bosses movie, Hollywood. Just....anything. Let's do the whole Three Stooges thing again with these three as the Stooges. Ready? BREAK. Put these three in more movies PLEASE. Anniston and Spacey also have smaller roles here and are still excellent, (I still love me some Kevin Spacey) and there's a random cameo from Keegan-Michael Key (it's literally in the first minute of the film so no spoiler) but it doesn't go anywhere. Sadly the Key of Key and Peele is only in this movie for us to go hey! It's Key! And what about Non-Stop though? That's about it in the acting department. Oh! Breaking Bad fans will recognize Jonathan Banks but to say he's underutilized is a tremendous understatement. Oh well.

So how is the story? Ha! Story. There is none. The plot they create here is ridiculous and totally illogical. Those who disliked or missed out on the first Horrible Bosses will not enjoy themselves here because of this and none of the three main characters are really all that likable. After all, the whole "plot" is them going and doing something despicable, after all. To take from Charlie Day's playbook....Horrible Bosses is like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Those who love the show can't help but love the main characters but if an outsider came in halfway through the show and watched it they would most likely be like wait, what? Why do you like this? These characters are despicable. That's Horrible Bosses 2. There's really nothing else to talk about. There is no directing. There is no script, as it is very obvious that most of the movie is improv'd. About the only other thing worth mentioning is that there were a few cool montages in here from an editing standpoint. So the editing was excellent. And they largely recycled the same songs from the first one again here. Which I don't have a problem with cause they are good songs, but again....it adds to that theme of if you liked the first one....

To say it again, at the end of the day, guys, it comes down to this. If you liked the first one and want more of the same, go see Horrible Bosses 2. If you missed the first one please dear God please see it first. This is not 22 Jump Street. There is no breaking of the fourth wall winking at the audience about how we, the movie-makers, know this is the exact same as the first one. (Nick Offerman's entire reason for being in 22 Jump Street) There is no standout joke in Horrible Bosses 2 that will bring in new fans. It's a big silly comedy with a lot of plot holes and poor direction from Sean Anders and company. However, since I liked the first one, it made me laugh. And at the end of the day for a comedy that's all that matters. So it receives a solid good from me. As long as a movie makes me laugh it doesn't matter. Boom. Marker drop.

The Verdict: More of the same. Here, let's do the exact same thing we did in the first one again without ever acknowledging that that's what we're doing. Sound like a plan? Ok. Break! Horrible Bosses 2.

The Recommendation: If you liked the first one, go see it. If you thought the original was ok, then stay away. If you haven't seen either, then seriously. Go watch Horrible Bosses. I think it's hilarious and so might you.

Rewatchability: Moderate

The Verdict: If you like the first one? 7/10. If you hated the first one? Probably a 2/10. So we'll average it out and get to a 4.5/10. So the final verdict for Horrible Bosses 2 is a 4.5/10 Slightly Below Average




Photo Credit
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