Moving on from Office Space, Mike Judge moves away from the cubicles and toward something generally in the area of the George Lopez show's situational styling. We're following a small-business owner, the curious menagerie he employs in his factory, and the strange twists that develop as a result of his less than perfect marriage.
I've got a lot of new images and some interesting character description releases that let you in on the general idea of what's coming in this film. While I'm not the biggest fan of Office Space, it has its moments, and this one looks like maybe it builds on the abilities behind that film. It hits September 4th, so check out what's in store for you, and mark your calendars.
“When Office Space tanked at the box office, I thought, ‘Okay, I was born to do something that nobody wants to see,’ and then as it became popular, it was more and more gratifying. So I think I’m finally back doing what I think I was born to do.” -Mike Judge
Joel (Jason Bateman)
Jason Bateman plays Joel, the big boss at Reynolds Extract. If Joel hasn’t reached his front door by 8 o’clock, he’ll find his wife, Suzie (Kristen Wiig) cinching up her sweatpants – and about as interested in him as he is in her mastery of supermarket coupon design. Sexually frustrated, Joel confides in his best pal, Dean (Ben Affleck), a barkeep – and soon finds himself wrapped up in a convoluted scheme to make Suzie cheat on him first with a dim-witted gigolo (Dustin Milligan) – thereby allowing him to pursue beautiful new employee Cindy (Mila Kunis) with a clear conscience.
Cindy (Mila Kunis)
Cindy, played by Mila Kunis, is a life-long con artist and sociopath who’s just one step away from having her parole revoked. Cindy relies on her whiles and good looks to ensnare unsuspecting men. Before the end of the film Cindy has managed to scam, con and play most of the characters.
Suzie (Kirsten Wiig)
Kirsten Wiig plays Suzie Reynolds, Joel’s unfulfilled and downright bored wife. “She designs coupons, which I’m sure was her lifelong dream, and she’s been married to Joel for a handful of years and things are getting a little stale,” the actress explains. “I don’t think I know what’s going on for him at work, because I’m having an affair, and that takes up a lot of time. You don’t really ask your husband about his work when you’re sleeping around. You’ve got other things on your mind – like sleeping around.”
Dean (Ben Affleck)
Joel’s best friend Dean, played by Ben Affleck, doles out advice (and illicit substances) to Joel from behind the bar. Thanks to Dean, Joel finds himself getting into all sorts of trouble.
Step (Clifton Collins Jr.)
Clifton Collins Jr. plays Step, who aspires for nothing more than to one day be floor manager at the factory. A bizarre factory accident leads to Step losing one of his “boys” – shenanigans ensue as Cindy manipulates, Joe Adler (Gene Simmons) represents and Joel tries to make everyone happy.
By the way, check out my recent interview with Clifton Collins Jr. here.
Brian (J.K. Simmons)
Rounding out the workplace ensemble is Factory Supervisor Brian, brought to vivid life by omnipresent character actor J.K. Simmons. Because this type of character – he loves the business, the company but he doesn’t know anybody’s name. Everybody’s “Dinkus” or “What’s-His-Name.
Nathan (David Koechner)
Perhaps no character in Extract feels more like a signature Judge creation than the Reynolds’ neighbor, Nathan, a man who could challenge Milton from Office Space in the category of “singular focus”.
Mary (Beth Grant)
Mary (Beth Grant), a fanny-packed, bitter slouch at the end of the assembly line who’d rather fold her arms and shake her head than keep life at Reynolds moving along – which is exactly what she’s doing when a bottleneck occurs on the line, resulting in a chain of accidents that cost poor Step a portion of his manhood.
Rory (T.J. Miller)
On the line with Step is Rory, a bona fide indie rock geek with a face full of piercings and body covered in ink. “I’m sure it wasn’t a progressive thing,” says his alter ego, actor T.J. Miller, of Rory’s tattoos. “He was, like, ‘I finally have $800 – I’m getting eight tattoos.’”
Brad (Dustin Milligan)
The final complicating factor in Joel’s life is Brad, the dull-headed gigolo Dean hires to seduce his wife. In a scenario right out of a seventies porn flick, he poses as the new pool guy, and finds his advances all too welcome.
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About Marc Eastman
Marc Eastman is the owner and operator of Are You Screening? and has been writing film reviews for over a decade, and several branches of the internet's film review world have seen his name. His reviews have brought him personal praise from the director of a major motion picture, and have been used as required reading in a course at a major University. These priceless rewards, along with just bags of cash, keep him from straying from freelance writing. He is also a member of The Broadcast Film Critics Association and The Broadcast Television Journalists Association.
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