Blu-ray Review “Horrible Bosses 2: Extended Cut”

Actors: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Foxx
Directors: Sean Anders
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: February 24, 2015
Run Time: 108 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

When I saw 2011’s “Horrible Bosses”, I liked it but I didn’t love it. When I saw a sequel coming out, I had zero interest in seeing it. After watching it, I am happy to report that it was quite the surprise. The sequel actually better than the first film. Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis are funnier than ever together. These guys just crack me up and they must have had a blast working together on this film. I was literally laughing out loud, which is rare recently for today’s comedies. This was a riot and even though not perfect at all, was just a ton of fun.

Official Premise: Fed up with answering to higher-ups, Nick (Bateman), Dale (Day) and Kurt (Sudeikis) decide to become their own bosses by launching their own business in “Horrible Bosses 2.”  But a slick investor soon pulls the rug out from under them. Outplayed and desperate, and with no legal recourse, the three would-be entrepreneurs hatch a misguided plan to kidnap the investor’s adult son and ransom him to regain control of their company.

The Blu-ray release of “Horrible Bosses 2” features both the film’s 108-minute theatrical version and a new 116-minute unrated extended cut. Even though longer, I still prefer the theatrical cut cause the extended cut drags in a bunch of spots. Comedies are always better the shorter they are…why don’t people learn this. We also see the return of Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Foxx and Kevin Spacy this time around. Aniston nails it for sure, laugh riot!! Foxx and Spacy are quick cameos. New cast includes Chris Pine and Christoph Waltz, who still take a back seat to the trio lead.

The special features included are decent. There is “Endless Laughter Guaranteed! which features the cast talking about the film and endless riffs and improv. “Off the Cuff: One-Liners You Didn’t See” is more of the same with a bunch of alternate-take reels are available. “Let the Sexual Healing Begin” is faux promo for Dr. Julia Harris’ Sex Addict Group. “Who Invented the Shower Buddy” is a quick piece on film’s invention. “Nick Kurt Dale INC: Employee Testimonials” features Ray, Lupe and Candy reflecting on their bosses. Lastly “It’s the Shower Buddy Infomercial” is fun promo and “High Speed Crash Course” looks at the film’s chase scene.

Horrible Bosses 2 arrives onto Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD on February 24th from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

Film Review “Horrible Bosses 2”

Starring: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis
Directed by: Sean Anders
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hours 48 mins
Universal

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

What do you do when your trio of friends get away with trying to kill your bosses? You go into business, hoping to sell your latest invention: The Shower Buddy! Think of all the different things you can do at a car wash and move it to your shower and you have an idea of what it does. Mistake number one: naming your company after yourselves. Nick-Kurt-Dale. Say it real fast and you’ll see the problem. Mistake number two: sell your product to Bert Hanson (Christoph Waltz) and his spoiled son, Rex (Chris Pine). Who said business was easy?

Consistently funny, with a few surprises, “Horrible Bosses 2” finds Nick (voice of reason Bateman), Kurt (always horny Sudeikis) and Dale (frantic and funny Day) back on the wrong side of the law when they attempt to pull off a kidnapping in an attempt to get back at Hanson senior, who has pulled a fast one and is about to take over their invention. Unsure of how to exactly go about doing the deed, they turn to a couple of pros: former boss/now convicted felon Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey) and old confederate Mother F***er Jones (Jamie Foxx). They even manage to run into Dale’s old employer, dentist Julia Harris, who now spends her time attending Sex Addiction meetings.

The cast is in fine form. The three leads go above and beyond in making sure this sequel is entertaining and not derivative of the first film. Waltz does his best to convey a Snidely Whiplash-type attitude but I’m not sure he understood the humor needed. On the other side of the spectrum, Chris Pine is amazingly funny. Who knew Captain Kirk had a sense of humor? His work here makes me think he will do well next month when the musical “Into the Woods” is released. In limited screen time Spacey, Foxx and Aniston are equally funny.

The script, by director Anders and John Morris (they also wrote last week’s “Dumb and Dumber To” as well as Sudeikis’ last film, “We’re the Millers”) ladles on the R-rated laughs in large doses, like gravy on your Thanksgiving turkey. It’s just as satisfying and there’s no need to unbutton your pants afterwards.

Win Advance Passes to the Kansas City Premiere of “Horrible Bosses 2” [ENDED]

Media Mikes has teamed up with Warner Brothers to give (25) readers a chance to win a pass for them and a guest to see the Kansas City premiere of the upcoming comedy “Horrible Bosses 2,” starring Justin Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day.

All you have to do is go to http://www.gofobo.com/main/sweepstakes/MEDIAMIKES and register. On Monday, November 17, (25) random entries will be chosen by Gofobo and those lucky winners will be notified on how to get their passes. Good luck!

Screening Information
Date: Thursday, November 20, 2014
Time: 7:30 PM
B&B Overland Park (formerly the Dickinson Palazzo 16) Overland Park, Kansas

“Horrible Bosses 2” opens on Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Blu-Ray Review “Horrible Bosses”

Directors: Seth Gordon
Starring: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Kevin Spacey
MPAA Rated: R
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Running Time: 106 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I have to admit…I purposefully missed this film in the theaters.  I thought it looked funny but nothing special and after watching, I still stick with my original thought. The film has quite a few good laughs but no repeat value.  The cast is fun and some of them are really out of their element like Jennifer Aniston and Colin Farrell. They were so funny and over the top that they easily stole the show. We have seen Kevin Spacey play the bad guy before…didn’t we all see “Fred Clause”…hello? Honestly I have to say that Charlie Day was my least favorite of the group. I guess that is why I don’t or ever will watch “It’s Always Sunny in Philadephia”. Jason Bateman is funny as well but was so much better in under-appreciated “The Change-Up”.

This 3-Disc ‘Totally Inappropriate Edition’ release is great though, includes both the theatrical and extended cuts on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital code to access a version of the film via UltraViolet.  This new service is really cool and allows streaming or downloading to a variety of devices. The special features include deleted scenes, which are decent and have a few laughs. If you like featurettes, this set contains four of: “My Least Favorite Career”, “Surviving a Horrible Boss”, “Being Mean Is So Much Fun”, and “The Making of the Horrible Bosses Soundtrack”. The first three are decent but the soundtrack one is not great. Overall if you are fan of this movie, this is worth the buy. Might want to rent it though it you haven’t seen it yet.

Synopsis: Management candidate Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman) has been logging 12-hour days and eating everything his twisted supervisor Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey) dishes out, toward the promise of a well-earned promotion. But now he knows that?s never going to happen. Meanwhile, dental assistant Dale Arbus (Charlie Day) has been struggling to maintain his self-respect against the relentless X-rated advances of Dr. Julia Harris, D.D.S. (Jennifer Aniston), when she suddenly turns up the heat. And accountant Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis) has just learned that his company?s corrupt new owner, Bobby Pellit (Colin Farrell), is not only bent on ruining his career but plans to funnel toxic waste into an unsuspecting population. Quitting is not an option. These monsters must be stopped. So, on the strength of a few-too-many drinks and some dubious advice from a hustling ex-con whose street cred is priced on a sliding scale (Jamie Foxx), the guys devise a convoluted but foolproof plan to rid the world of their respective employers? permanently. But even the best-laid plans are only as good as the brains behind them.

 

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