Office Space

A guy working in a run-of-the-mill tech company hates his job. After some help from a relaxation expert, the guy develops the capacity to become indifferent to his stress, and ironically lands himself a position of higher power. But when his friends are slated for downsizing, our boy and his buddies decide to get even with a half-assed money-making virus scheme.

This movie has many chuckles, some laugh out loud scenes, other shrugs of the shoulder, in a humorous and poignant office setting, which touches upon much of the inhumanity and hypocrisy that permeates the high-tech cubicles environments of our day. I personally saw MUCH of myself in the main character, since I, much like him, find myself wondering about the worth of my cubey-employment every other high-tech-flying day. I sense this capacity to identify with the main characters in this film, as a strong correlation point to your appreciation of the humor within. And it is within that environment that the authenticity and parody of the actual office rapport, the insincere stooge bosses, the phony empowerment signs all over the walls, and the daily frustrations that people face with the technological office “advancements”, were all dead-on perfect!

Having said all that, the plot of the film itself is actually quite thin, with an irrelevant and cheesy romance with Jennifer Aniston (wasted in this role) tossed in for effect. I would have liked to have seen more office scenarios and incidents, as opposed to the last third of the film, which essentially down-shifts into a semi-crime caper. The actors were all very good with Ron Livingston playing an excellent laid-back dude, and his Bill Gates Jr. buddy coming through as the geek with the love for the gangsta rap. All in all, I would recommend this movie to all people who live, or have survived, this kind of an office environment, are looking for a light comedy, and don’t mind a thin plot. Either way, always try to remember that work sucks!

(c) 2021 Berge Garabedian