Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
For Nick, Kurt and Dale, the only thing that would make the daily grind more tolerable would be to grind their intolerable bosses into dust. Quitting is not an option, so, with the benefit of a few-too-many drinks and some dubious advice from a hustling ex-con, the three friends devise a convoluted and seemingly foolproof plan to rid themselves of their respective employers... permanently.
Horrible Bosses is a competent, crowd-pleasing comedy with a simple but functional premise built around three likable leads. The ensemble chemistry between Bateman, Day, and Sudeikis carries the film, and the bosses — particularly Kevin Spacey and Jennifer Aniston playing against type — deliver solid comedic performances. However, the plot is fairly formulaic screwball-crime-comedy territory with few genuine surprises, and the cinematography is purely functional TV-movie style with nothing distinctive. The ending resolves things neatly but without much invention. The film's novelty is limited — it borrows liberally from the 'bumbling murder plot' subgenre without adding much of its own voice. A fun, watchable comedy but not a standout in any craft dimension.