HORRIBLE BOSSES 2

US, 2014, 108 minutes, Colour.
Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Chris Pine, Christoph Waltz, Jonathan Banks, Lindsay Sloane.
Directed by Sean Anders.

There was a lot of funny stuff in Horrible Bosses, especially in the portrait of how horrible the bosses were and their treatment of their employees, the employees rebelling against the bosses and getting themselves involved in the crime world. There was plenty of plot, plot-twists and a great deal of farcical comedy. Not forgetting some jokes that we used to call ‘dirty’. Nowadays, the term is ‘crass comedy’, a signal to those who would prefer missing out on it, a signal to those who don’t mind and, as with so many of Hollywood comedies over the last 20 years, there is a big audience out there for crass comedy.

Actually, the above paragraph could have been written for Horrible Bosses 2.

This time, our three employees are out on their own. They have an invention, The Shower Buddy, which puts shampoo in the shower rose so that you get that as well as the water. They appear on a breakfast show (with satirical digs at the manner of the hosts) and seem to be on the way to success when a new boss phones them for a deal. We have seen Christoph Waltz as a villain so many times, we know that he is going to be a horrible boss even as they don’t. And he has a slimy son, Rex Chris Pine, who toys with the trio’s hopes, offering them a deal, then taking it off the table. It is Dad who does offer a deal and off they go, hiring staff (with Kurt, Jason Sudeikis, as lewd as ever), with Jason Bateman doing his now familiar, but acceptable, straight man shtick, and Charlie Day’s Dale as befuddled as before.

It is no secret that the boss will renege on his contract, so what are they to do? They make a phone call to that horrible boss, Dave (Kevin Spacey) but he takes the opportunity to berate them again. So, some advice from Dean (MF) Jones, who counselled them in the previous film, a welcome return by Jamie Foxx. Why not kidnaped (Kurt writes kidnape) the obnoxious Rex, hold him to ransom, and get some of their money back!

Before they develop their plan, they decide to use laughing gas, so, of course, back to Dale’s dentist office, with Julia returning as well, a brittle Jennifer Aniston, who is conducting a sex addicts’ meeting in the office. Plenty of opportunity for ‘crass humour’ here.

This is also one of those films which visualises the perfect plan so that we admire what they intend and then are dismayed at, and laugh at, all that goes wrong in the execution. It does include one of the funnier car chases you are likely to see, especially when they want to lead the police away from their warehouse and have to wait a long time because they had just got across a level crossing and the police have not.

There is a good twist towards the end, and we realise that it’s not going to be an all’s well that ends well story. New situations, Kevin Spacey getting in on the act, and Jamie Foxx complicating matters… So, if they are all up to it, will be Horrible Bosses 3.

1. The popularity of the original film? The past horrible bosses, the dumb employees? Crime? Comedy, farce?

2. The familiar characters, Julia, Dave, Jones returning?

3. The re-working of the plot, the kidnapping plan, the reality carried out? Farcical aspects, the twist at the end? Using the same characters and their characteristics?

4. The style of comedy, character comedy, the foolish and the straight man? The elaboration of the plan, mistakes in reality? Pratfalls and arguments? The kidnapping gone wrong? The inclusion of the sexual jokes? The blend of these ingredients?

5. The past, the bosses, the three on their own, the Shower Buddy, the invention, the plann for marketing? Going on the talks how, Dale and his outbursts, Kurt and his foolishness, Nick trying to keep the discussion on track? The comperes and the giggles? The doubletake about the name, Nick-Kurt-Dale? (niggerdale)?

6. Phone call from the new boss, Rex at the meeting, his manner, offering a lump sum, the deal off the plate…? The meeting with the boss, his antagonism towards his son? The order? The hiring of the staff, the lewd aspects from Kurt, the sympathetic hiring of Hispanics? Success, the completion of the order, going to the golf course, the cake and the balloons, the boss and his offhand manner, the cancelling of the order? Taking the cake?

7. The three, the desperation, the plans, writing kid nape, visiting with Jones and his ideas and suggestions?

8. The plan, the laughing gas from the dentist’s office? Going to the office, getting inside, Julia turning up, the sex addicts’ meeting, Nick going in, his thinking it was an AA meeting? His story? The homosexual overtones? The reactions of the group? Of Julia? The sexual encounter with Nick, and the surveillance footage?

9. Going to the house, ringing the bell, all the mistakes, the foolishness, the arguments? The maid? Rex at home? Their hiding in the cupboard, the laughing gas leaking, the effect on the three? Driving home, Rex in the boot of the car? His taking over the plan? His devious and ruthless character?

10. Nick and his being careful, but consenting? Kurt, sex perspective, low IQ? Dale, his stupidity, the misunderstandings and arguments? His concern about Stacey and the triplets? Julia and her turning up? The discussions about sexual behaviour, Julia and her relationship with Stacey?

11. The plan, the visualising of the details, the perfect crime? The reality, Kurt forgetting to take the phone because of looking at the girls, the lack of uniforms? The phone calls? Rex and his suddenly killing his father? Blood on the trousers and his changing with Kurt – with the phone finally giving him away?

12. The police, the chief, the surveillance, the discussions with the boss, following, finding the body? Jones and his turning up? Getting away with the money, the police and the chase, the farcical aspects, still carrying the wire from the gate, dangling over the overpass and falling…?

13. Waiting for the train to pass so that they would lead the police away, Rex being smart and still getting there first?

14. The discussions with Rex, the phone call, his giving himself away?

15. The previous contacts with Dave in prison, his attack on them? The final call, the irony of his buying the company and the potential for another sequel?
Jones and his having the money and buying the franchises?