Mike Judge's Newest Flavor

Today, I took in the latest film from Mike Judge, Extract. All the promotion of it tries to prime the audience to expect another "Office Space" from "the man who made Office Space," so it was hard not to approach it with perhaps some unreasonable expectations.

In truth, though, it's not really a "workplace comedy." The story does focus on a character who built and owns a factory that manufactures extract (food flavoring), and does occasionally have scenes built around the idiots who work there. But it's more about the frustrations that character is feeling in his marriage, and the ridiculous scheme he's prompted to undertake at the urging of his drug-pushing bartender friend.

The film has a good cast. The likeable-in-damn-near-anything Jason Bateman plays the lead character. As on Arrested Development, he mostly plays it straight while others around him go more crazy -- but he does it well once again. Ben Affleck is the crazy bartender; it's not a "chameleon role," since he's completely recognizable, but it is a return to a kind of role he hasn't played since his Kevin Smith days.

There are other good performances too, but they're harder to like because the characters are so unlikeable. Mila Kunis is a flirtatious swindler that takes on a temp job in the factory. Kristen Wiig plays Jason Bateman's very unsympathetic wife. J.K. Simmons is a manager at the plant who can't be bothered to actually care about the people he manages. Gene Simmons (yes, that one) plays a low rent bus bench ad attorney. They're all good, though the characters are fairly one-dimensional and meant to be hated.

As for the film itself, it's a bit hit and miss. Again, you have to compare it to Office Space. (Hey, they made us do it!) Extract does have its share of laugh-out-loud funny moments. But they're not flying at you in every scene as with Office Space. The movie is pretty funny, but somehow less fun.

Overall, I would recommend it, though it's probably not one you need to rush out to the theater to catch. I rate Extract a B-.