Review: Extract (Judge, 2009)
January 17th 2010 20:39
Extract
Written January 17, 2010
Extract is a film that fails due to its attempts at overcompensation. Director Mike Judge clearly tried to recreate the wit and timing of his widely popular cult hit, Office Space. Instead, what Judge has created a decade later is an uneven film with awkward pacing and far too many unnecessary plot points.
The trailer to the film makes one believe that it is simply going to be about Joel (Jason Bateman) who is bored in his marriage and meets a girl named Cindy (Mila Kunis) at work who complicates matters further. Instead, we are treated to a ridiculous subplot in which Kunis is a thief and con-artist and thus her entrance into Joel’s life is marred with obstacles.
The film would have worked far better if it was more straightforward like Office Space, which had a romance subplot and an interwoven ensemble main storyline. The main plot line and numerous supporting characters in Extract are completely unfocused. Joel battles marital issues, unhappy workers, a kooky best friend, a lawsuit, and an attractive employee.
The film meanders through unnecessary elements and contains few laughs. The characters are completely uninteresting and textbook. Like the annoying next door neighbor (played by David Koechner) doing his best Gary Cole impersonation from Office Space or the loud and obnoxious factor worker. And let’s not forget the rather morbid plot twist at the end.
The subplot with Kunis is almost completely unnecessary. It’s as if Judge didn’t know what he wanted to do: did he want to create a love interest or did he want to create conflict? Instead, it turns into both. The film doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be. Is it about Joel’s material life or his professional life spinning out of control? In the end, Kunis is merely a catalyst to cause the film to go in a certain direction rather than a character. There’s a different film that came out this year that was about the destruction of one’s personal and professional life. It’s called A Serious Man and it was incredible. It’s the way a film of this nature should be done.
Judge’s film is riddled with problems from a technical standpoint as well, ranging from the annoying soundtrack to the indulgent score which is so predicable and self-aware of its self it’s almost nauseating. Take for example the piano based music during certain scenes that is supposed to be ironic and cute but ends up coming off as obnoxious.
There are a handful bright spots in the film. J.K. Simmons is amusing as usual. It’s nice to see Bateman in a lead film role and he does the best he can with the material. Ben Affleck gives the best and by far funniest performance as Bateman’s best friend. Overall, however, Extract is a 95% failure. It’s self-indulgent and tries to be far too clever for its own good. Perhaps Judge should stay out of the workplace from now on as magic clearly does not strike twice.
| 44 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
