HORRIBLE BOSSES 2 DVD (2014)

SYNOPSIS: Nick, Dale and Kurt decide to become their own bosses by launching a business. After a slick investor deceives them, they hatched a misguided plan to get their company back.

MOVIE REVIEW:

The concept of the original, which has three morons planning to kill their bosses, was both ridiculous and funny. This however can’t be said of the sequel three years later.

Best friends, Nick (Jason Bateman), Dale (Charlie Day) and Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) have invented a shower device called “Shower Buddy” that caught the attention of a major company owned by Burt Hanson (Christoph Waltz). Promising them an advanced order of 100,000 units, the threesome went on to produce the units for Hanson. But the unscrupulous Hanson has no intention in honoring his words instead he plans on taking over their inventory during foreclosure. Left with a debt of $500,000, the three buddies plan to kidnap Hanson Junior, Rex (Chris Pine) for a ransom to solve their dire situation.

Director Sean Anders (Sex Drive, That’s My Boy) wrote and took over directing duties from Seth Gordon though he ports back nearly every supporting character from the first including Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Aniston. It’s a good try on Anders’ part but I guessed he is more adept at writing than directing. Hot Tub Time Machine and We’re The Millers were terrific comedy gems, Horrible Bosses 2 is just plain lazy and unfunny. Most of the funniness actually come from the original (the toothbrush gag for example) and we left with constant blabbering, painful jabs from the three guys.

While we might root for the success of Nick, Dale and Kurt since they have the most sadistic bosses on earth, there’s not even a single evil boss to kill in this instalment. It simply doesn’t make sense to root for three incomprehensible morons who made one mistake after another. Throw in Chris Pine character for edging the guys to fake his kidnapping, the movie turned into an exhausting journey of rehashed jokes, tired riffing and a long dragged out police chase.

Liked The Hangover series, the rule of diminishing returns already seeped in way before you even realize it. Horrible Bosses 2 have a bunch of gifted actors but the material is plain horrible. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Running at 17 minutes long, the cast members talk about the chemistry and improv skills of Bateman, Day and Sudeikis in Endless Laughter Guaranteed.

AUDIO/VISUAL:

It’s a Warner comedy so expect high visual and audio quality. Funny dialogue comes across as clear and images sharp. 

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee