Director Josh Gordon, Will Speck
Genre Comedy
Cast T.J. Miller, Jason Bateman, Kate McKinnon, and Olivia Munn
Rating R
Release Date December 9th, 2016
“When his uptight CEO sister threatens to shut down his branch, the branch manager throws an epic Christmas party in order to land a big client and save the day, but the party gets way out of hand...”
Office Christmas Party is a star-studded comedy from directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck, who previously worked together on Blades of Glory and The Switch. The title for the film was actually inspired by a Saturday Night Live (SNL) skit of the same name. Office Christmas party stars Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, T.J. Miller, and Olivia Munn.
With a cast consisting of SNL alums as well as a few of Hollywood’s best, Office Christmas Party provides plenty of laughs and a script strong enough to remain entertaining throughout. Is it the best comedy of the year? Not even close, but I really don’t think it was trying to be. This is a clear-cut example of a film with a terrific cast and a smart enough script to ensure everyone involved has a good time, and viewers reap the benefits. I will point out that the writers attempt to provide the story with a bit of an emotional layer in an effort to appeal to audiences in a bigger way, but that doesn’t work quite as well as intended. You still feel for T.J. Miller and Jason Bateman's characters and the bigger meaning the writers attempt to convey, but this is certainly not a holiday movie that will bring a tear to your eye. It is a comedy through and through. None the less, Office Christmas Party had me laughing pretty much the entire time and that’s all I was looking for.
Office Christmas Party has a fantastic cast that is absolutely stacked. Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman are very familiar with comedic roles opposite each other after both starring in Horrible Bosses 1 & 2, The Switch, and The Break Up. This time around they both deliver top tier performances as expected. Aniston once again plays the character with pent up anger but as usually she looks damn good doing it. Not quite Horrible Bosses sexy dentist with a freaky side but still pretty damn good. I am a huge T.J. Miller fan and he was easily my favorite in the film. He isn’t nearly as funny as his Erlich Bachman character in the hilarious HBO series Silicon Valley, but he still brings his undeniably funny and distinct brand of humor. I would hate myself if I didn’t give a well-deserved nod to former SNL star Kate McKinnon. As usual she plays a very unique and awkward character, while earning her fair share of laughs. Between her facial expressions and over-the-top mannerisms, I challenge you to keep a straight face when she is on screen. Olivia Munn was solid but didn’t really stand out for me. Rob Corddry fit the role of angry, bitter guy people can’t seem to control perfectly.
Office Christmas Party has an all-star cast and a talented crew of writers, ensuring a final product worth your time and more importantly your money. I can’t say I laughed quite as hard as my lady did during the movie but I certainly LOL’ed my fair share, trust me. Do yourself a favor and enjoy Office Christmas Party for what it is, a goofy and much needed light-hearted comedy for a hectic and inevitably stressful holiday season. Recommended.
