Horrible Bosses 2 (D+ or 1.5/4 stars)
I loved 2011's 'Horrible Bosses'. It was funny, fresh, & was stupid-smart (which usually offers the best of laughs). But 'Horrible Bosses 2' (directed by That's My Boy's Sean Anders, not the original helmer) is idiotic, cheap, vulgar, convoluted action/comedy caper that tries to re-create the easy magic of the 1st film, but fails miserably. Having been freed from their 'horrible bosses' in 1st film, and tired of slaving away for oppressive managers, Nick Hendrick (Jason Bateman), Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis), & Dale Arbus (Charlie Day, the 1st film's MVP) have decided to go into business selling their new self-shampooing shower head invention, the "shower buddy". But they need a wealthy investor to manufacture/distribute the shower head.
They find one in prospective, but ultimately ruthless CEO, Bert Hanson (Christoph Waltz, when does he not play ruthless?); who cheats them by getting them to manufacture 100,000 units, cancel their order, & try to steal their business {oh no!}. With no legal recourse & everything at stake, our hapless trio plans to kidnap the businessman's obnoxious playboy son, Rex (a hilarious Chris Pine, who knew?), demanding a $500,000 ransom. But they receive quite a shock when compulsive liar Rex actually WANTS to be kidnapped ... for a cut of said $500,000 ransom -- see, he hates his father, too. Matters get even more complicated when Dale's prior sex-addicted boss (Jennifer Aniston, once again, in a crap movie), Nick's prior boss (Kevin Spacey, a saving grace) & 'Motherf*cker' Jones (Jamie Foxx, not as funny as the 2011 flick) enter the fray, and the trio must face another double-cross. "Hijinks" ensue.
Lordy Loo, 'Horrible Bosses 2' stinks. It's dumb, it's unpleasant to the ear, & it sure ain't funny (aside from a few isolated laugh out loud moments). In the 1st film, we liked these dopes. In this film, I found them intolerable. I think it's lethal when you can't root for anyone in a movie designed for us to root for someone(s). You don't want to bad guys to win, and yet, I wasn't rooting for our imbecilic protagonists, either. They are so STUPID this time around and, I had no sympathy for their situation whatsoever. Really, I just wanted the whole thing to end. Worst of ALL ... I could. not. stand. the relentless talking-over-each-other shtick. It's as if the director said, 'you know what, just ad-lib, improvise, curse, yell, scream, & riff away ... script be damned' -- and that's exactly what we get (incessant, overlapping chatter that has nothing to do with that narrative, itself).
In addition to being tiresome, the jokes/scenarios are just so tasteless. The gratuitous objectification of women. Misogynistic jokes. Rape jokes. Race jokes. Improper innuendo. And again, all littered with profanity throughout. Cursing is only funny when sporadically used and in the right context. Hearing the word 'f*ck' every 5 seconds is not my idea of a fun time. It doesn't make me laugh, & it detracts from the experience. Furthermore, our 3 'protagonists' have no problem entering a criminal plot & walking away with no consequences. As mentioned, I DID laugh a few times (usually at Chris Pine's surprisingly hysterical turn). I also enjoyed the final result of a car chase late in the proceedings. But that's all I got for positives.
They find one in prospective, but ultimately ruthless CEO, Bert Hanson (Christoph Waltz, when does he not play ruthless?); who cheats them by getting them to manufacture 100,000 units, cancel their order, & try to steal their business {oh no!}. With no legal recourse & everything at stake, our hapless trio plans to kidnap the businessman's obnoxious playboy son, Rex (a hilarious Chris Pine, who knew?), demanding a $500,000 ransom. But they receive quite a shock when compulsive liar Rex actually WANTS to be kidnapped ... for a cut of said $500,000 ransom -- see, he hates his father, too. Matters get even more complicated when Dale's prior sex-addicted boss (Jennifer Aniston, once again, in a crap movie), Nick's prior boss (Kevin Spacey, a saving grace) & 'Motherf*cker' Jones (Jamie Foxx, not as funny as the 2011 flick) enter the fray, and the trio must face another double-cross. "Hijinks" ensue.
Lordy Loo, 'Horrible Bosses 2' stinks. It's dumb, it's unpleasant to the ear, & it sure ain't funny (aside from a few isolated laugh out loud moments). In the 1st film, we liked these dopes. In this film, I found them intolerable. I think it's lethal when you can't root for anyone in a movie designed for us to root for someone(s). You don't want to bad guys to win, and yet, I wasn't rooting for our imbecilic protagonists, either. They are so STUPID this time around and, I had no sympathy for their situation whatsoever. Really, I just wanted the whole thing to end. Worst of ALL ... I could. not. stand. the relentless talking-over-each-other shtick. It's as if the director said, 'you know what, just ad-lib, improvise, curse, yell, scream, & riff away ... script be damned' -- and that's exactly what we get (incessant, overlapping chatter that has nothing to do with that narrative, itself).
In addition to being tiresome, the jokes/scenarios are just so tasteless. The gratuitous objectification of women. Misogynistic jokes. Rape jokes. Race jokes. Improper innuendo. And again, all littered with profanity throughout. Cursing is only funny when sporadically used and in the right context. Hearing the word 'f*ck' every 5 seconds is not my idea of a fun time. It doesn't make me laugh, & it detracts from the experience. Furthermore, our 3 'protagonists' have no problem entering a criminal plot & walking away with no consequences. As mentioned, I DID laugh a few times (usually at Chris Pine's surprisingly hysterical turn). I also enjoyed the final result of a car chase late in the proceedings. But that's all I got for positives.