Having learned a crucial lesson from their previous misadventures, Nick, Dale, and Kurt vow to never work for anyone else again. They quit their jobs and start their own business, even attracting an investor with a promising idea. However, their investor turns out to be a ruthless capitalist who swindles them out of everything. Desperate, the trio hatches a plan to kidnap their tormentor’s spoiled son, hoping to blackmail him into returning their assets. Unfortunately, the son proves to be more than they bargained for.
The Return of the Horrible Bosses
The night-time Los Angeles chase scene required the expertise of 18 stunt performers.
Hollywood doesn’t invest so heavily in marketing, box office tracking, and daily revenue updates just to ignore projects that turn a profit. While not a blockbuster, Seth Gordon’s “Horrible Bosses” was a resounding success three years prior, generating five times its budget and introducing the world to the unforgettable “bosses” portrayed by Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, and Jennifer Aniston. To abandon such a goldmine would be a crime, hence the sequel, embracing the classic sports movie principle: “Bigger, more expensive, funnier!”
This second installment of the hapless-friends-turned-entrepreneurs story sees Sean Anders, writer of “We’re the Millers” and “Dumb and Dumber To,” and director of “That’s My Boy,” taking over from Gordon. While “That’s My Boy” might not be a highlight, everyone deserves a second chance, and Anders seizes the opportunity. Fortunately, the sequel doesn’t waste time reintroducing the characters, diving straight into the plot at full speed. Comparisons to the first film are inevitable, so let’s address it head-on: the sequel treads the same ground as its predecessor. Whether that’s a good thing or not is up for debate.
The “Shower Buddy,” a shower cabin invention presented by the characters on live television, was conceived by the film’s writers and is reportedly the first of its kind. The creators even considered patenting it.
Familiar Faces and New Antagonists
The close connection to the first film offers at least three memorable reunions: with Spacey and Aniston, as mentioned earlier, and with the unforgettable Motherf***er Jones, played by Jamie Foxx. Although their screen time is significantly less than in the first “Bosses,” these actors remain a highlight. Aniston, in particular, is enjoying a career resurgence, delivering such raunchy lines that even the most seasoned connoisseur of vulgarity will blush. Demanding new acting heights from Bateman, Day, and Sudeikis is pointless; together, they amplify their individual strengths and can bring a smile to even the most stoic face, especially when they start bickering in unison.
However, the newcomers deserve special attention. There are three of them: Christoph Waltz plays a cynical financial shark who, with a Landa-esque smile, deceives his new “partners” before coldly leaving them penniless like Dr. Schultz. Chris Pine portrays Waltz’s son, a spoiled brat who never outgrew playing war games. And Jonathan Banks, Mike from “Breaking Bad,” plays a detective investigating the case involving Nick, Kurt, and Dale. Pine is particularly noteworthy, having concealed his comedic talent until recently, now unleashing it in several projects.
Flaws and Familiarity
So, is it all perfect? Of course not. The film has its flaws. Unfortunately, the writers occasionally dip below the belt, with the opening scene featuring a simulated homosexual act on live television. A joke worthy of “That’s My Boy,” but clearly lowbrow for other films. At times, the characters’ chatter becomes irritating, especially when added solely to fill plot gaps. Finally, there’s no escaping the fact that many plot points are repetitions of what we saw in the first film. Sometimes cleverly re-imagined, but repetitions nonetheless.
The filmmakers are banking on that repetition, as the new “Horrible Bosses,” like many recent American comedies, demonstrates the desire to squeeze the last drops out of the tired trope of average underachievers experiencing a mid-life crisis and trying to inject life into their existence with any foolishness. Such characters are fleeting; life is unforgiving. But who will we have left when the fighters against horrible bosses finally grow up? Who will we laugh at if not the inept criminals whose every operation is almost a complete failure? At least they are naive and genuinely funny, unlike…