After just a dozen days we’re back in comedy sequel land! Mid November saw the return of Harry and Lloyd after 20 years in DUMB AND DUMBER TO, which grossed (accent on gross) enough to shoot to number one at the box office for that weekend. Now, this film’s trio hasn’t been away for two decades, merely three years. But it was a surprise flick that came out of left field to quickly become a fan favorite (especially on premium cable and home video). As opposed to the Farrelly brothers’ duo, these guys aren’t really kid friendly. It, and this follow-up, truly earn their R ratings (for raunchy and rude). Now, could their outrageousness become deluted by a another visit, just as with the HANGOVER best buds? I’m happy to report that has not happened with return of those 2011 foul-ups in HORRIBLE BOSSES 2.
As this new misadventure begins, our three intrepid incompetents, Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudekis), and Dale (Charlie Day), have left their old places of employment, and are, in fact, their own bosses. The fellas’ are appearing on a live local TV morning show to generate interest in their new invention, “The Shower Buddy”, a device that automatically dispenses shampoo, soap, and conditioner along with pulsating streams of water. They just need some company to distribute the product, and eureka! A major sales company emails them and sets up an appointment. At a lush office building, the guys meets head honcho Rex Hanson (Chris Pine) in his opulent office. But Rex laughs at their naive plans (manufacture in the US?!!). As the dejected trio leave, they almost bump into the actual head of the company (it’s really his office, too!), Rex’s pop Bert (Christoph Waltz), who likes them and the proposal. In fact, he places an order for 100,000 units. The boys quickly rent industrial space and hire locals as the staff. When they complete the order before the deadline, the trio decides to surprise Bert at his golf club. Ah, but he has a surprise for them, cancelling the order and telling them that his version, “The Shower Pal” will be made in Asia. The boys are desperate. After much brainstorming they form a plan to kidnap Rex and collect a million in ransom from Bert. But when the scheme goes off the rails, Rex becomes their partner, wanting to grab a couple mil from ole’ dad. And soon the hapless threesome are re-uniting with the incarcerated rageaholic Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey), tatt-sportin’, cocktail straw sippin’ Motherf*#*in’ Jones (Jamie Foxx), and the insanely insatiable Dr. Julia Harris, DDS, PERV (Jennifer Aniston) in a frantic dash to collect the cash and evade the cops.
The terrifically talented trio gets right back into a natural, easy rapport making it seem as though three years hasn’t passed since their last teaming. Anchoring the craziness, and often serving as the de facto straight man, is the dry, droll Bateman. Just as in TV’s “Arrested Development”, he’s the voice of reason and sanity while effortlessly tossing off asides and insults. As the randy Kurt, Sudekis is a hyper-frisky wide-eyed puppy who charms you even as he’s grinding against your leg. Day is an endearing , high-pitched, panicky, sweaty mess as the not-quite domesticated Dale, who always has his adoring, but exasperated wife and toddler triplets in the back of his mind during every comic crisis. Spacey glares at the nitwits that outwitted him with pure, white-hot funny fury. Foxx, as the boys’ suave, criminal sensei has much more to do this time out and really delivers some great laughs. But the movie’s MVP is the gleefully inappropriate Aniston who beams with delight at every bit of demented debauchery. Much like the late, great Madeline Kahn in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, her entrance into the story raises the film to unbridled heights of naughtiness. Her staccato, gattling-gun grilling of Bateman’s Nick is a thing of bawdy beauty.
The vets are given able support by the newbies, especially Pine, eager to shed his heroic space captain image, as the king of over-privledged spoiled brats. His contemptible treatment of his housekeeper has us rooting for this little creep’s comeuppance. Waltz is the consummate, conniving, cut-throat one-percenter who only cares about his filthy lucre, and destroying his competitors. And it always a pleasure to see the surly, hang-dog Jonathan Banks as the grizzled cop that knows something fishy’s going on at that factory.
Another newcomer to the caper is director/co-writer Sean Anders who capably carries the torch from original helmer Seth Gordon. Anders keeps the energy level high throughout the opening set-up, postponing the usual second act lull that plauges other funny flicks. Unfortunately, the same problems that befell the first outing also trips him up, namely an overly-convulted, over-extended finale. The double and triple crosses get repetitive and wear down the movie momentum. And some too-realistic violence and cruelty sap the high-spirited energy. But it doesn’t dampen the wonderful work of these comedy all-stars. When the flick is firing on all cylinders (usually when Ms. Aniston’s working her magic with Bateman), HORRIBLE BOSSES 2 delivers more laughs than just about any studio comedy this year.
3.5 Out of 5
