Horrible Bosses 2 Review Part 1
A film that basks comfortably in the warm glow of lowered expectations.
I have nostalgic feelings for the first Horrible Bosses as it was one of the first films that taught me that Rated R was not an automatic comedy success story. I found it lame and pedestrian with very few funny moments but otherwise relatively unremarkable. It wasn’t as bad as the Change Up but you wouldn’t be wrong to put the two movies in the same paragraph. I walked into this theater expecting more of the same Chef Boyardee pasta with sawdust in place of Parmesan cheese.
Imagine my surprise when I found myself honestly laughing out loud on a fairly continuous basis. I guess in the time since the first movie Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, and Charlie Day have figured out how to work together without trying to remake the Three Stooges. Either that or I have been so barraged with bad movies in the last couple years that my own taste has shifted from “I want to see something good” to “I want to see something that compares favorably to being staked out over a red ant pile and covered with honey”.
Regardless of motivation I found this movie to be shockingly entertaining. The story no longer focused on an incredibly lame and nonsensical revenge plot and everyone had a motivation that I could relate to (which of us hasn’t dreamed of faking our own kidnapping in order to test our parents love?). The jokes were better and the villains more worthy of what came to them. 
I also am a huge fan of Jennifer Aniston, Christoph Waltz, and Jonathan Banks (Mike from Breaking Bad. Los Pollos Hermanos image courtesy of our Breaking Bad t shirts)
(continued)
Next
Horrible Bosses 2 Review Part 2
The thing that bugs me is the part that really made this movie work was Rex Hanson as played by Chris Pine. Regular readers (hi mom!) should know by now that I consider the two recent JJ Abrams Trek-ish flicks to be the ruination of my most beloved franchise and I see Chris Pine as the face of that abomination. Therefore it is hard for me to say anything about him without unloading a lifetime of hatred and scorn (the fact that the dude probably gets laid all the time adds an element of jealousy to that hatred) but the fact is his character really made the movie fun. He was exactly the kind of arrogant, rich, egotistical, mentally unstable villain any film needs as the bad guy and his bizarre interaction with the other three dudes was time well spent. I will never say the man can’t act but he will need to do about 100 more of these films and get me hooked up with a hot chick to make up for the first JJ Abrams Trek film (there aren’t enough good films and hot chicks in the universe to make up for Into Darkness).
This is not to say this film is a triumph. It is merely competent but when compared to the first one that makes it a film capable of shaking the pillars of Heaven. If the first film were a swift kick in the balls then this one is only a mild slap on the face and if you go into the theater expecting testicular impact you will actually quite enjoy it. 
Acting was decent, cast quite good, and while the story was not something to write home about (ah ha ha ha) it also did not inspire me to kill the next person who used the word “your” incorrectly (“Your welcome”. Shakespeare image courtesy of the funny t shirt category).
(continued)
Next
Previous
Horrible Bosses 2 Review Part 3
The story. The three doofuses from the first film are back and now they have an invention they are trying to manufacture and sell. They get called in by Rex to talk about their invention and Bert (Christoph Waltz) orders 100,000 units. He later rips them off completely and plans to not only take over their business by also ruin them financially. The boys decide to kidnap Berts son Rex (Chris Pine) and hold him for ransom. They opt out but it turns out that Rex has serious daddy issues and wants to fake his kidnapping in order to get some of his dads money and prove that daddy loves him. Elaborate plans are cooked up and then go awry. Crosses are doubled and a couple of twists pop up. The film ends modestly smothered under a blanket of deus ex machina but it is at an acceptable level.
So worth seeing? In a normal month probably not but honestly with the Hunger Games scaring all the rest of the fish out of the water it is not a bad choice. You will laugh. You won’t gain a lot of insight into the transient nature of existence but you will laugh. 
This film would work really, really well with about half a bake on so try to get partially drunk or partially stoned before seeing it. Or just down a sixer of Schlitz and play X-Box all night. Either would be about the same level of entertainment. (Image courtesy of our Bob Marley t shirt collection).
Thanks for reading. I know I’ve been not writing a lot lately but this holiday business is kicking the crap out of my movie viewing time. I’ll try to see something good this week and write it up. Do social media stuff with us on Facetwitpinagram etc. Thanks.
The Infamous Dave Inman
Previous
