Office Christmas Party (M)
Starring: Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Olivia Munn
FROM such a promising idea, comes a pretty flat and disappointing result.
I feel like I’ve been to wilder parties – but maybe that’s journalism.
Office Christmas Party is very much a hackneyed, paint-by-the-numbers Christmas film.
A troubled tech company, Zenotech, is facing the depradations of Jennifer Aniston, who plays the wicked witch of the west.
Closures loom for Christmas, leaving the workers stunned.
It’s a story ripped from today’s headlines – it’s just not very interesting.
A lovable brother (played in ‘dude’ fashion by T.J. Miller) needs to get the firm back on track, helped by Jason Bateman.
Many hilarious hijinks do not ensue.
Olivia Munn is her usual charming self.
And special mention to Saturday Night Live star Kate McKinnon, who puts in a star turn as the thoroughly deranged HR rep, Mary. She has gone stylishly mad – but because she’s in HR, nobody notices.
But the bottom line is, if the movie you’re watching reminds you of a lacklustre office Christmas party, then you’re doing it wrong.
– Jason Beck
