You know, I would just love to take a dump all over “Horrible Bosses 2” (2014). (I’m only speaking metaphorically. Jennifer Aniston’s character might be inside my head a little bit.) But dang it, I just can’t. I mean, it made me laugh out loud a couple of times. My expectations were low. (It’s a sequel to a ridiculous 2011 film in which three wimpy everymen plot revenge and hijinks ensue.) It met them. It’s another disposable Jason Bateman comedy. Jamie Foxx’s character is understatedly funny and “How You Like Me Now” by The Heavy is a great theme song.
Archives for posts with tag: Jason Bateman
Some records will never be broken. I can’t think of one right now. I’m sure it involves Hank Aaron or Michael Jordan or somebody. Oh, wait, here’s one: Most Consecutive Movies Where You Play An Uptight White Guy. Jason Bateman has become the DiMaggio of WASPiness, even when he plays a Jewish dude, like in “This Is Where I Leave You” (2014). It’s a harmless little cliche about family dysfunction that plays like an episode of “Parenthood,” but with cussing, pot smoking and boob jokes (I’ve never actually watched “Parenthood,” maybe all that stuff is in the TV show, too).
I am somewhat perplexed that I liked such an unlikeable film about such an unlikeable person. Jason Bateman, apparently tired of playing uptight white guys in 758 films over the past couple of years, wrote and directed “Bad Words” (2013). In it, he plays a sociopathic white guy who is using a national spelling bee to settle a vendetta 40 years in the making. There are cliche bad-boy hijinks to ensure an R rating and a cliche relationship with an extremely unsociopathic young contestant, but other plot and dialogue conventions are mocked throughout. Which might be why I liked it.
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