Extract fails to enhance Mike Judge's comedic reputation
Maggie LaFleur
Issue date: 9/10/09 Section: Features
For cult comedy fans, the thought of the arrival of Mike Judge's first movie in years comes as a welcome breath of fresh air after a summer of formulaic Hollywood flicks.
After all, Judge has produced some of the best comedies of the era, thanks to his sleeper hit, Office Space, and his lovable, if borderline retarded, duo of Beavis and Butthead.
But, unfortunately, even comedy greats sometimes stumble (see the Coen Brother's last film). And Judge's latest offering, Extract, simply fails to live up to his towering reputation.
But, wait, you're a huge Jason Bateman or Office Space fan, right? Sorry, but, do not go see this movie. You will only find yourself impatiently waiting for anyone to say something funny, but they never do.
With such a dynamite cast, including Jason Bateman, David Koechner, Kristen Wiig and Ben Affleck, I expected so much more from this movie.
Joel (played by Bateman) is the sexually frustrated owner of an extract factory who is about to sell his business before an unfortunate accident occurs. The accident causes his plans to change and his life to fall apart.
In a moment of weakness (and under the influence of a horse tranquilizer), he hires a gigolo to seduce his wife, Suzie (Wiig), who has not slept with him in several months.
To his surprise, his wife goes for it. Not only did he end up paying someone to sleep with his wife, but his company is being sued by the victim involved in the accident.
It's easy to see why Joel thinks his life is unraveling by the minute.
This film has no clever direction and seems to be completely lost most of the time. Bateman delivers the funniest lines of the movie, and even those lack the brilliance he displayed in the television comedy, Arrested Development.
Maybe it was the story line and the direction, but none of the cast members were able to live up to their hilarious potential.
David Koechner, for example, plays the relentlessly annoying neighbor, Nathan, who is trying to convince Joel and Suzie to go with him and his wife to a charity dinner, but he cannot take a simple hint after they repeatedly tell him no.
But Koechner's performance only increases expectations for the movie. His character, unfortunately, adds nothing to the film's movement except to provide ceaseless irritation, unlike the characters he played in Anchorman, Talladega Nights and Waiting.
The only thing watchers will be thankful for is that the movie is over relatively quickly. I'm hoping Bateman and Koechner's reasons for filming this movie were simply because they had nothing better to do.
After all, Judge has produced some of the best comedies of the era, thanks to his sleeper hit, Office Space, and his lovable, if borderline retarded, duo of Beavis and Butthead.
But, unfortunately, even comedy greats sometimes stumble (see the Coen Brother's last film). And Judge's latest offering, Extract, simply fails to live up to his towering reputation.
But, wait, you're a huge Jason Bateman or Office Space fan, right? Sorry, but, do not go see this movie. You will only find yourself impatiently waiting for anyone to say something funny, but they never do.
With such a dynamite cast, including Jason Bateman, David Koechner, Kristen Wiig and Ben Affleck, I expected so much more from this movie.
Joel (played by Bateman) is the sexually frustrated owner of an extract factory who is about to sell his business before an unfortunate accident occurs. The accident causes his plans to change and his life to fall apart.
In a moment of weakness (and under the influence of a horse tranquilizer), he hires a gigolo to seduce his wife, Suzie (Wiig), who has not slept with him in several months.
To his surprise, his wife goes for it. Not only did he end up paying someone to sleep with his wife, but his company is being sued by the victim involved in the accident.
It's easy to see why Joel thinks his life is unraveling by the minute.
This film has no clever direction and seems to be completely lost most of the time. Bateman delivers the funniest lines of the movie, and even those lack the brilliance he displayed in the television comedy, Arrested Development.
Maybe it was the story line and the direction, but none of the cast members were able to live up to their hilarious potential.
David Koechner, for example, plays the relentlessly annoying neighbor, Nathan, who is trying to convince Joel and Suzie to go with him and his wife to a charity dinner, but he cannot take a simple hint after they repeatedly tell him no.
But Koechner's performance only increases expectations for the movie. His character, unfortunately, adds nothing to the film's movement except to provide ceaseless irritation, unlike the characters he played in Anchorman, Talladega Nights and Waiting.
The only thing watchers will be thankful for is that the movie is over relatively quickly. I'm hoping Bateman and Koechner's reasons for filming this movie were simply because they had nothing better to do.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
fdaisin
posted 9/10/09 @ 3:11 AM EST
This movie was great! How could you not get it? Sad review.
Marty Finley
posted 9/14/09 @ 12:30 AM EST
Why the unnecessary jab at Burn After Reading? Good movie that wasn't meant to be digested as a standard comedy, but rather a hybrid like Fargo.
That being said, I haven't seen Extract, but if it sucks, I blame Ben Affleck. (Continued…)
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