HORRIBLE BOSSES--2011

Rated: R

Stars: Kevin Spacey, Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Anniston, Jamie Foxx

Director: Seth Gordon

Genre; Dark Comedy

Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis are pure devilment together in Horrible Bosses-- a brilliant, snappy, outrageous, sexy, dirty, laugh-out-loud tour de force of a dark comedy that may just be the funniest thing of its kind ever to hit the theater screens! (Okay, so now you wanna know how I REALLY feel about it!)

Nick, (Jason Bateman) Dale, (Charlie Day) and Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) are three hapless wage slave buddies, each working for the boss from hell, and too dependent upon their jobs to quit, so they grin and bear it--just like most poor working schmucks in the real world. That is, until they hatch a plot to do away with all three of their nemeses.

Kevin Spacey is Dave Harken-- an anal, obnoxious, disingenuous authoritarian who jerks Nick around like a marionette. Across town, Kurt's boss bites the big one, and his cocaine addled son (Colin Farrel) is now calling the shots. And Dale is a dental assistant working for the sexually aggressive--okay, she's downright predatory--Dr. Julia Harris (Jennifer Anniston).

The fun begins when our three bumbling Musketeers start breaking into their boss's homes to gather incriminating information. A chain reaction of events is triggered, and somebody does end up dead, but it doesn't go down the way we're expecting.

The laughs in Horrible Bosses are rapid fire, and the other patrons at the showing I attended were cackling all the way through the un-politically correct hijinks--as most people will do in a darkened theatre where they can't be identified and pressured to make some silly public apology about something they said...or found amusing.

And while any sense of plausibility is thrown out the window early on, and you have to roll with that if you're going to get into the spirit of things--I did find it TOO RIDICULOUS to believe that Dale--as a red-blooded American male-- would staunchly resist the advances of a scantily clad, lewd and lascivious JENNIFER ANNISTON--even if he is engaged! The "dentist who wants to get drilled" represents a stunning departure for the former queen of PG-13 romantic comedy, but I think it's a good one for Anniston, who is finally showing us she's all grown up at age 41!

Kevin Spacey is utterly convincing as an over the top A-hole, and Jamie Foxx garners guffaws as a "hit man" named Motherfu**** Jones.

Everything came together for this one--the writing, the pacing, the acting--making Horrible Bosses one that will go down in the annals in the same class as The Hangover!

Grade: A

HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU

Quintessential girl next door Ginnifer Goodwin (who plays one of three wives vying for attention in the HBO series about modern day polygamy, Big Love ) cruises the local singles scene and gets slighted again by dudes who just don't seem to be that interested.

The film features numerous subplots about married and unmarried couples who don't really know themselves or the person they're with, yet still have the balls to hope that everything will work out...in other words, JUST LIKE MOST OF US! And that's why we can all identify with this flick.

The big name cast includes Jennifer Anniston and Jennifer Connelly, (let's see, that's two Jennifers and one Ginnifer--reminding us of that unfortunate time in our nation's history when many expectant mothers' brains turned to mush) along with Scarlett Johansson and even Kris Kristofferson in a cameo role.

Johansson, who more and more seems to be teasing her male fans into coming back for more in hopes that one day she'll take it all off (but never will because she's too big of a star now) gets groped in her underwear in the film's steamiest scene.

Jennifer Connely, who DID take it off in at least one B movie I saw (early in her career) appears to have opted for some mammillary downsizing. As I recall, she looked HUGE then, but doesn't look that way now. Ironic that a girl with talent may still choose the implant route just to try to get noticed amongst all the competition. Then, when finally recognized for her ABILITIES, discards them like a pair of worn out sneakers. (Don't need THESE bodacious things hanging around anymore!) By the way ladies, you're mistaken when you think that all men are Neanderthals who just like BIG; when, in fact, what most men appreciate--first and foremost--is that it be GOD GIVEN. (Breast implants are like a Madonna stage show--no subtlety...just in your face sexuality.)

Anyway, He's Just Not That Into You attempts to answer the burning question: How can I tell if he/she really digs me, or if they're just using me for an electric blanket until something better comes along? The most poignant moment comes when Goodwin's character, Gigi, who wears her heart on her sleeve, waxes poetically about how keeping one's heart open will pay dividends down the road, despite the psychic pain of the moment.

GRADE: B