Horrible Bosses was a spasmodically funny, frequently nasty comedy that mined laughter from Colin Farrell’s combover and the prospect of Jennifer Aniston’s sultry dentist raping her assistant, played by Charlie Day. (No, we are not living in the golden age of screen comedy.) It should never have been a hit. Yet, here in the darkest timeline, Horrible Bosses grossed more than $200 million worldwide, and spawned a sequel. The Coens were never moved to make a second Big Lebowski, but Horrible Bosses 2, this we get.
Director Sean Anders steps in for outgoing helmer Seth Gordon, while actual horrible boss Brett Ratner remains as producer, adding some much needed authenticity to the production. Jason Bateman stars as Nick once more, ring-leader of a would-be criminal cadre comprised of his idiot pals Dale (Day) and Kurt (Jason Sudeikis). Having learned their lesson in the previous film, working only for themselves and starting a business with the sole intent of selling a gadget called the ‘shower buddy’. It is of no relevance to the rest of the plot. All you need to know is that amoral millionaire Burt Hanson (Christoph Waltz) stiffs them on a deal, plunging them into debt and forcing their hand, crime-wise, with the trio then plotting to kidnap Burt’s a-hole son Rex (Chris Pine), asking for a hefty sum in return. Jamie Foxx’s murder consultant Motherf***er Jones and Kevin Spacey’s imprisoned boss pop up to offer helpful advice, while Aniston’s sex addict doctor basically just looms to threaten rape. Hey, if it ain’t broke…
Written, ostensibly, by Anders and John Morris, Horrible Bosses 2 often feels like an exercise in movie characters being forced to fend for themselves. (The screenplay is thinner than even Ratner’s veil of misogyny.) Bateman, Sudeikis and Day riff endlessly, and though the trio is talented and usually entertaining, you can whiff the desperation. The supporting cast is enthusiastic, particularly Aniston, who at least deserves the credit for climbing into the crevasse with such zeal. However, she and the others have the excuse of playing broadly-drawn baddies. The problem is that our heroes are equally despicable, and not only without inner lives, but outer ones too: if anyone can tell me a single detail about Nick and Kurt’s existence beyond their new business or their penchant for felonies, I’ll eat a freaking stetson. When the credits roll, we get some goofy bloopers assuring us the human beings behind these characters are actually endearing. Meanwhile, the same song from the original credits plays: “How You Like Me Now?” Real talk? Even less than before, which is saying something.
There are occasional novel moments. Nick, Kurt, Dale and Rex’s imagined fantasy of an ultra-slick ransom drop is crushed in practice; a genuinely funny escalating series of disappointments that make this seem, albeit briefly, like a clever caper spoof. Also, if you shoot Bateman, Sudeikis and Day jabbering for 108 minutes, you’ll accidentally capture them saying something witty. Too often, however, Horrible Bosses 2 reminded me of Ruthless People, a kidnapping comedy I haven’t seen recently enough to remember if it’s any good, but am certain it shouldn’t be considered anyone’s benchmark for quality.
Horrible Bosses 2 arrives in Australian cinemas December 11, 2014.
