why does office space work

C

c.g._eads

Veteran
i'm watching this movie, and it could've so easily detererorated into all the other corny stupid comedies. Yet it remains funny the entire time. How is this so? What makes this movie work?
 
It has all the necessary pieces of flair. The flair is optional, but encouraged. Now stop creating threads and go enjoy some Shrimp Poppers or Extreme Fajitas!

(There is one flaw -- why does it say 'paper jam' when there IS NO PAPER JAM?!)
 
Because it's not merely absurd but it' real (hyperreal at times) but real nevertheless.

I have literally worked for a company exactly like in this film. I have literally acted like Peter. I have literally tried and wondered why they wouldnt fire me (I would have). The movie works cause it's too true.
 
What John said. We've all been there (or will be). The movie works on so many levels and each one we can relate to.

The greatest line of all time, "What would you do if you had a million dollars?" Neighbor, "I'd tell you what I'd do, ....two women at the same time."

:)
 
yes its a great satire over our modern day of live.

Its really funny that we are cavemen in suits basicly.
 
"I can’t talk to my mother, so I talk to my diary..."
That rap almost made me wet my pants...too funny...lovely setup/ performances
J
 
Let's not jump to conclusions.

::rimshot::

I agree with what's been said....it works because it reflects real life.

A few years ago I read an interesting interview with its writer/director Mike Judge (same guy who did Beavis & Butthead, King of the Hill, etc.). He said that his measure of creativity is whether the idea has been inspired by a genuine life experience, or by something seen on TV/film? If the idea was grounded in real life, it would get used.

Hollywood regurgitates a lot of the same stuff over and over because the creators simply imitate what they've already seen done--sometimes consciously, sometimes unconsciously. It's hard to break out of that mold.
 
It is so close to my current 9:00 to 5:00 situation that I can no longer find the movie funny. It just loses something when you're watching it and a scene comes on and you're like "Ha ha ... er ... that happened today." :)

Similarly, Dilbert has been ruined for me as well.
 
Lemme ask you guys a question--does it ever bother you when watching "Office Space"' that it is constructed like a series (or at least two) "episodes" rather than as a single film? In other words, the first half (after the intial setup) is about Peter snapping and going into a trance state, and the second half is a variation on a caper film.

When we shot it, there was a whole section that transitioned between the two which was ultimately simplified into the bar scene between Peter and Michael Bolton (which was actually a reshoot done months after principal photography). It may be because I was aware of the original construction of the film that the change of gears seems a bit clunky when I see it, but I'm wondering if anyone else feels that way?
 
charles, you notice it *a little bit*, and the movie does feel different after that scene. But it doesn't bother me.

what kind of shoot was it? share any stories?
 
It does change gears somewhat suddenly, but that never bothered me. Life often changes gears rather quickly, so why can't fiction? Maybe I'd feel diffrently if I read the original screenplay.

Cheers,

Josh
 
The shoot was pretty uneventful--we spent a lot of time on that office set (which was a blessing, because it was a full-on heat wave at that time in Austin, and our exterior days were pretty unpleasant). Too many little anecdotes to go into here--Steven Root had to wear contacts that counteracted the effect of the coke-bottle glasses he wore as Milton--Mike Judge couldn't be tricked into doing Beavis or Butthead voices on cue, but if you were standing next to him at the right time, you might hear him say quietly "heh heh--this is cool!" etc.

It was a fun shoot.
 
John_Hudson said:
Because it's not merely absurd but it' real (hyperreal at times) but real nevertheless.

I have literally worked for a company exactly like in this film. I have literally acted like Peter. I have literally tried and wondered why they wouldnt fire me (I would have). The movie works cause it's too true.
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Oh man, are we all freakin' computer scientists?
 
why did it take mike judge so long to direct another movie ("Idiocracy", i think, is the new title)? was it his or hollywood's choice?
 
monte said:
I hated office space
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BLASPHEMY!!

Unless you've ever worked in a real *Office* environment.....it's hard to appreciate the humor. Just stuff like "Someone's got a case of the Monday's".....OMG!! They really hit the nail on the head when they were doing character development. Every office usually has at least one or two of the "Office Space" people.

~reservoir~
 
reservoir said:
Unless you've ever worked in a real *Office* environment.....it's hard to appreciate the humor. ~reservoir~
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I don't know... a lot of my associates who have no clue about the reality of a 9-5er still seem to like Office Space. The distinction for me lies primarily in the scene where everyone is envying the dude who got hit by a car and got to build his decision-making tool or whatever.... people who've never worked in an office think it's funny and unrealistic. People who've been in a cubicle think it's funny because they've wished for similar things...
 
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