Mike Judge. To some, he is a simple nobody. A name that warrants no extra attention. But to die-hard movie fans across the country, Mike Judge is a name that will forever be linked to Office Space, the cult-favorite film that pokes fun at the irony that is(the irony of) everyday life. Ever since that fateful film, which debuted in 1999, fans have anxiously awaited his next masterpiece. Unfortunately, with the release of his latest film Extract, audiences will yet again find themselves disappointed at the lack of humor and witty sarcasm, the two qualities that helped propel his other projects to cult-phenominon status.
Starring the likes of Jason Bateman (Juno and 'Arrested Development'), Extract had the potential to be great. A superb supporting cast full of dry humor gurus gave the film promise. Sadly, for some unknown reason, the story itself was laden with distasteful jokes, disjointed scene structure and a commonality of pure stupidity. As a result, the film stumbles early on, rarely reaching a point that warrants a laugh or a smile.
The whole premise, which follows a business owner on the verge of selling his business for a simpler life but is thrown for a loop when an on-site accident leads to an unexpected lawsuit, lacks the heart and soul necessary to carry such a film. Sure the dialogue is classic, but I give much of that credit to the actors themselves. Their delivery is fine, as is their interactions with one another; however, when placed within the broad scope of the film and its story, it just doesn't work.
Kristin Wiig does a great job playing Bateman's wife. Her sweatpants routine, intermixed(along) with her lustful ambitions for a hired cheater, give her the comedic edge. J.K. Simmons and David Koechner follow up closely behind with Ben Affleck coming in a distant third.
Other than the dialogue, the only saving grace for the film is the debacle which results in Bateman's Joel hiring a guy to make his wife cheat, thus allowing him to have his own affair with a new intern Cindy, played by the always beautiful Mila Kunis. Sound confusing? It kind of is. But the effect it has on the overall film grants the quickly dying story a little life, keeping me awake throughout the second half.
Unfortunately, neither this main incident, nor the improvisational skills of its actors, are able to save the otherwise dry script. Unable to put a finger on exactly what went wrong, I can only say that the feature is boring. And not just uneventful boring, but uninteresting and unsatisfying boring - which makes this film a rental at best, but a well deserved miss in most books.
