Horrible bosses are a blight on any working environment – but if the first Horrible Bosses film showed us anything, it’s that killing them isn’t necessarily the best course of action.
At least for average Joes like Nick (Jason Bateman), Dale (Charlie Day) and Kurt (Jason Sudeikis).
But the inept and dissatisfied workers are back – and now decide to become their own bosses by launching their own business ‘NicKurDale’ (not a name to say out loud).
But the unlucky trio soon get shafted by big business guru Bert Hanson (Christoph Waltz) and with no legal recourse, the three would-be entrepreneurs hatch a misguided plan to kidnap his son (Chris Pine) and ransom him to regain control of their company. What could possibly go wrong?
Naïve and well-meaning, the boys are completely out of their depth (again) and to make matters worse the nymphomaniac dentist Julia (Jennifer Aniston) from the first film is back on their trial and liable to nuke their plans.
Also back is Jamie Foxx as the clueless hitman who goes by a name so expletive-ridden I can’t even quote it here!
Horrible Bosses 2 could well have been a poorly conceived cash-in, but against the odds director Sean Anders manages to deliver a sequel that is just as funny as the original. Sure, a lot of that is down to the likeable cast who riff off each other and who genuinely seem to be loving working together. Be sure to stay for the outtakes in the end credits which are hilarious.
As the kidnap plan unfolds – and unravels – the clueless crims find out that going to prison or losing their company might be the least of their worries. The plot includes a stylish ‘how the ransom money will be dropped off’ showcase run through which is like something out of Oceans 11. Of course the reality is far more humiliating than any of them could imagine.
Not all the gags work but they come so thick and fast that there are enough hits to keep you laughing along.