Office Space (1999)
It’s not that I’m lazy - it’s that I just don’t care.
THE SUMMARY: A trio of disgruntled software company workers conspires to get revenge against their bosses through a sophisticated computer virus scheme, only to be outdone by another colleague for whom a stolen stapler, missing paychecks, and reassignment to exterminator work is the last straw. The movie masters an uncommon and difficult brand of comedy to achieve - people and situations so irritating they are funny. It’s hard not to relate to this one if you’ve ever worked in a similar cubicle-scape.
FROM MOVIE-PICKER CHARLES: Mike Judge commentary on corporate America. Hilarious memes and characters make this a must watch movie of the ‘90s.
THE BEST:
A perfect depiction of the mentality of maintaining a mediocre job: The interview scenes with the consultant team are legendary. They’re a perfect portrayal of the mentality that you inevitably adopt within this sort of cubicle job - how can I do just enough not to get fired, but no more? What is the minimum effort I can put in, but still escape scrutiny? How can I avoid anybody noticing that I really don’t do much of anything at all?
It’s hilarious to make fun of, but there’s a very serious point illustrated - if you’re doing that sort of mental strategizing to avoid the work, you’re probably doing the wrong work. You don’t enjoy it obviously, but more importantly - you’re strategizing against yourself. You’re strategizing against your own potential. And if you work in a place where full effort and exceptional performance goes unnoticed, you might consider finding a place where they don’t.
I have people skills!
A straight shooter for upper management
A perfect depiction of the subtle annoyances of workplace communication: This movie makes the irritating funny, and no theme more so than the irritations of sugarcoated unclear workplace communication. We’ve all had that sort of boss - the type who has to present as your fake friend, but in trying to be nice, can’t explain anything clearly, and doesn’t listen in return, ironically creating the sort of conflict their focus on ‘people skills’ is supposed to minimize.
Peter’s ‘TPS report’ issue, Joanna’s ‘flair’ issue - they both are examples of bosses who give unclear directions, assume you understand without actually explaining what they want, and then repeat the same unclear directions without actually listening to you in between their own bullshit.
Did you see the memo about this?
We need to talk about your flair
A perfect depiction of how opportunity presents itself elsewhere: Another truth this movie illustrates well is that you rarely get ahead by staying within the lines of an infuriating workplace. Yes, it’s tempting to strategize to do the minimum to keep the security of a mediocre job, and it’s scary to lose it, but often losing that job by your own choice or by the ax of the boss is a blessing, because it means new opportunity. Peter quits the charade and stops caring entirely - his honesty propels him to a promotion. Tom gets fired, fails a suicide attempt, and cashes in on a drunk driver hitting him.
Not that we’d consider getting hit by a drunk driver a win usually, but Tom certainly does. It’s an improvement he welcomes. Nobody in this movie gets ahead by indulging the boss’ silly rules. They get ahead by taking risk and pursuing things that genuinely motivate them. The comfortable security of a mediocre job you can barely stand is not the best you can do, so accept it only as long as you must.
THE WORST:
The ending doesn’t make a lot of sense: When Lumbergh is interrupted telling Milton he needs him to exterminate the cockroaches, he is informed of a massive accounting problem, meaning Lumbergh and the bosses are already aware of the money that Peter, Michael, and Samir have stolen. How the building burning down afterward solves that problem and clears the three to get away doesn’t make sense.
Sure, it creates a lot of chaos and more important things for the company to deal with in the moment, but it’s still a massive problem the company would investigate later. If a robber stole jewelry from your safe and you knew about it, but your home burned down shortly thereafter, would you not still investigate the theft?
It’d be more believable if the company wasn’t aware of the missing money prior - in that case, the loss could plausibly be written off as some sort of confusion with the costs of the fire.
The Lumbergh sex scene: I’m still on the fence about whether it was hilarious or cringe. Or maybe it was hilarious because of how cringe it was. When it was alleged that Joanna slept with Lumbergh, my wife and I immediately started joking about how his ‘that’d be great’ mannerisms would translate to such a scene. Soon enough, there was the scene actually acted out. I do credit the movie for going for it, so I suppose this point belongs in the praise and not the criticism. Regardless, those images of Lumbergh stuck in my mind are surely ‘the worst.’
THE RATING: 4/5 Wickies. Creeping on the coveted 5 Wicky™, and I probably could be persuaded. An entertaining and funny watch I certainly recommend.
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NEXT WEEK: Snatch (2000)
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