Movie · 2011 · Comedy, Crime · 1h 38m · R · English
Curator score: 2.8/10 (842.6K ratings)
Ever wish your boss was dead?
Overview
For Nick, Kurt and Dale, the only thing that would make the daily grind more tolerable would be to grind their intolerable bosses into dust. Quitting is not an option, so, with the benefit of a few-too-many drinks and some dubious advice from a hustling ex-con, the three friends devise a convoluted and seemingly foolproof plan to rid themselves of their respective employers... permanently.
Ratings
Curator score: 2.8/10
IMDb: 6.9/10
Letterboxd: 3.11/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 69%
Metacritic: 57
TMDB: 6.6/10
Director
Seth Gordon
Production
New Line Cinema, RAT Entertainment
Cast
Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Donald Sutherland, P.J. Byrne, Julie Bowen, Lindsay Sloane, Wendell Pierce, Ron White, John Francis Daley, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Steve Wiebe, Michael Albala, Jennifer Hasty, Reginald Ballard, George Back
Curator Review
Verdict
A broadly funny, fast-moving workplace-crime comedy with strong chemistry from the three leads and a few very quotable set pieces. It works best as a rude, high-energy hangout movie; it works less well when the plot leans on mean-spirited escalation and dated sexual-harassment jokes.
Best for
viewers who like buddy comedies with crime-movie plotting
fans of ensemble comedy chemistry and rapid-fire banter
people in the mood for crude, outrageous studio comedy from the early 2010s
Skip if
you are sensitive to sexual harassment being played for laughs
you prefer tightly plotted crime comedies over broad farce
you want a more modern, less dated workplace comedy
Overview
Horrible Bosses is a slick, crowd-pleasing comedy built around one simple fantasy: what if miserable employees could finally get even? The premise is elastic enough to support a lot of momentum, and the movie gets genuine mileage out of Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis bouncing off each other as three very different kinds of desperate men.
Worth noting
The best stretches are the ones that keep the trio in over their heads, turning a ridiculous murder plan into a series of increasingly stupid improvisations. It has the rhythm of a studio comedy that knows exactly when to speed up, when to let a joke land, and when to throw in a memorable supporting turn to keep things moving.
Bottom line
That said, the film’s humor is very much of its era, and some of its biggest laughs come with a sour aftertaste. If you can accept the crude, often mean-spirited tone, it’s an easy watch; if not, the movie’s charm may not be enough to offset its uglier material.
Top Letterboxd reviews
ciara (3★) · 3651 likes
when it says “total fucking asshole” across kevin spacey’s face at the start that’s poetic cinema baby
Holly-Beth (3★) · 3158 likes
i'm going through a jason bateman thing i don't know what's happening to me i'm so sorry
leonard (4★) · 3157 likes
THEY CALL ME HELL 👏👏
THEY CALL ME STACY 👏👏
THAT'S NOT MY NAME 👏👏
THAT'S NOT MY NAME ☝️️☝️️☝️️
THAT'S 👏 NOT 👏 MY 👏 NAME 👏👏
shaneya (4★) · 1800 likes
WHY WOULD YOU PUT HIS WHOLE BATHROOM IN YOUR ASS?!?!!?
Andrew Ferguson (1.5★) · 1595 likes
Look this movie was funny. I laughed a good few times. Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis were all great and had good chemistry and hit all the comedic beats really well.
But there’s a recurring plot line in this where Charlie Day is repeatedly sexually harassed by his boss (and even full-on raped by her!!!), and it’s played off by everyone as “Ahhh it’s not a big deal though cos she’s hot.” It’s supposed to be funny cos… more