EXTRACT

US, 2009, 92 minutes, Colour.
Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, Mila Kunis, Kristin Wiig, J.K. Simmons, Clifton Collins Jr, David Koechner, Gene Simmons, Beth Grant, Dustin Milligan, T.J. Miller.
Directed by Mike Judge.

Even when we discover that the extract of the title refers to extracts of, say, vanilla, for flavouring products, it still doesn't really tell us much about the plot at all. Or, whether it is a comedy or a serious film. Let's say a broad comedy which raises some moral issues which are more serious. Let's also say that it deals with ordinary enough people that many audiences could identify with, if not in behaviour, at least, in temptations and personal crises and decisions – and the need to repair and make amends for some of them.

Actually, that might make it sound a bit more grandiose than it is, although grandiose it really is not.

Put it this way: Joel is a middle aged small factory owner, lenient on his staff (many of whom are stupid, gossipy and accident-prone) who receives an offer for his factory, who finds his wife, Suzie, rather cool at home and who takes refuge in a bar where his old friend, Dean, is the bartender and is full of really bad advice (and drugs as well). There is also a young con woman, Cindy, who is an unscrupulous thief who teams up with an employee, Step, who is the victim of a severe accident and is good-natured about it (until he meets Cindy). What is Joel to do – and, what is worse, what does he do, egged on by Dean?

Jason Bateman is Joel. He has been in many recent films and has proven himself quite a character actor. Dean is played with nonchalence by an almost unrecognisable Ben Affleck. Mila Kunis is the recidivist Cindy. Kristen Wiig is Suzie.

Add to that there are quite a few supporting characters who are well played,which probably make Extract better than it might have been. David Koechner is the wearing good neighbour whose demise comes as something of a shock to him and to us all. J.K. Simmons, always worth seeing, is the factory assistant. Gene Simmons (yes, of Kiss) is a ranting lawyer. Dustin Milligan makes a convincing really, really slow-witted would-be gigolo and Clifton Collins Jr offers a good turn as Step.

Writer-director, Mike Judge, made the animated film Beavis and Butthead do America, so he is not against some satiric touches in portraying some average (at times, very average in their decisions) middle Americans.

1.Broad comedy, audiences identifying with characters and situations, the workplace, marriage and fidelity? Moral decisions?

2.The American town, homes, factory, bar, clubs? The roads? Realistic? The musical score?

3.The title, Joel and his mother, the invention, building up the company? The staff, their style? Brian as his 2-I-C, relationships with the staff?

4.The prologue: Cindy, flirting with the two men in the music shop, the guitar and her plaintive story, stealing the guitar, pawning it? Her sad story for the pawnbroker? Her reading about Step? Going for the job, flirting with Joel, getting Step’s address, finding his house, setting up the meeting at the supermarket, talking with him, the claim and insurance, the law? Cautioning him about sex after his accident? Stealing the staff purses? Doing the drugs, Willie? The encounter with Joel? Joel watching her at work, the confrontation, the deal, the night with Joel, disappearing, stealing Joe Adler’s car?

5.Joel at home, his relationship with Suzy, her coldness, his hard work, her work at home? His seeing Cindy, his discussions with Dean, Dean giving him the drug, introducing Brad, hiring him, the set-up, Joel’s reaction in the light of day, paying Brad, confronting him? His reaction to the fifteen meetings? Upset, walking out on Suzy, going to the hotel, encountering Cindy, the deal with her? Nathan as the next-door neighbour, continually pestering, wanting the cheque?

6.Suzy, her work at home, the encounter with Brad, realising she loved Joel? Her being uncomfortable with Joel? His leaving? The encounter with Nathan, her telling him off, his dropping dead? Going to the funeral, leaving with Joel?

7.Joel at work, Brian and his not knowing the staff names? The possibility to sell the factory? Rory and the accident, Step and his accident, the insurance, his being persuaded to sue, Joel upset, the staff and their complaints, the two women and talking, Rory and the discussions about the strike? His challenging them to take over the factory? Cindy, realising the truth? Step and his being made manager? Keeping the factory?

8.Joel and Dean, friends, the visit to the bar, Dean’s life, satisfied with bar-keeping? The contrast with Joel and his achievement? Dean, morality, pimping Brad, the set-up, wanting his cut? Giving Joel the drug? Taking him to Willie and the experience with the drugs?

9.The women at the factory, their continued gossip, accusing Hector of stealing, not accepting that Cindy would steal, saying Joel was covering for Hector, Step telling them to shut up and work?

10.Rory, his piercings, dumb, the accidents in the factory, his band, the performance, the discussions about the strike? The various members of the staff?

11.The Hispanics, prejudice?

12.Brad, dumb, everything explained many times, going to Suzy, in love with her? His applying to the factory for a job?

13.Step, his work, the accident, a good man, his stepbrother and his laziness, falling for Cindy, the suing, change of mind? New position?

14.Joe Adler, the advertisements, his bullying and ranting tactics, the deal, Cindy stealing his vehicle?

15.Brian, second-in-charge, managing?

16.Nathan, the comedy of his holding up Joel, slow talking, the dinner, the payment, the cheque? Cindy telling him off, dropping dead?

17.The comic, the serious, the amoral, the moral?