By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.5 cats
Director: Mike Judge
Starring: Ben Affleck | Clifton Collins Jr. | J.K. Simmons | Jason Batemani | Kristin Wiig | Mila Kunis
Country: united_states
Year: 2009
Running time: 92
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1225822/
Toni says: “I have a keen taste personally in comedies and personally prefer the dark. I am a fan of Mike Judge’s work from his work as an animator on THE ANIMATION SHOW and the TV series, ‘The King of the Hill’ to his quirk mainstream comedy, OFFICE SPACE, to his box-office flop IDIOCRACY, both universal mainstream films with light dark humor. EXTRACT reminds me a bit of a short film I was quite fond of last year also set in an old fashioned factory setting called ‘Our Neck of the Woods.’ Judge writes great lines and can make you see a mainstream run-of-the-mill actor in new light. The film was created on location at a bottled water factory with real employees being the background actors. The film has all the components that I think you mean in the ‘recipe’ for a black comedy: good characters that you can laugh and/or identify with, a good scenario of a story with interesting conflicts, believable actors, and funny Mike Judge cameo at the end of the film as well.
“Speaking of actors: I am certainly not a Ben Affleck fan; however, you did not recognize him in his sidekick wild bartender buddy with ‘wise’ suggestions, Mila Kulis as the kleptomaniac that everyone loves, Gene Simmons in a small role as the crazy infomercial lawyer (character inspired by Dallas-based ambulance chaser attorney Jim Adler), Clifton Collins Jr. as the factory employee that dreams of floor manager stardom and looses one of his testicles in the process played by Clifton Collins Jr. (who also has a small memorable role in SUNSHINE CLEANING), to the most annoying, chatty neighbor in the world, Nathan, played by David Koechner. Jason Bateman is the lead character as the owner of the extract factory who these characters all feed off of and reminds me of Matthew Broderick’s role to some extent in Alexander Payne’s ELECTION. The story is about a factory owner going through a midlife crisis, his quirky employees, his love interests including one that will try to sink his company who is a criminal on probation, and the bar friends that is pushed to meet from his bartender friend Dean (Ben Affleck). There is a basic story here and many additional funny moments from the Guitar Center type guys in the opening scene that get scammed to the grindcore metal band member/factory employee that wants everyone to come his show(s).
“I think that EXTRACT is black comedy that sneaks up on you as one. It is not an ‘art film’ yet does not reply on conventional methods of slapstick, explosions, or actors playing their same old roles. It is not trying to be something else and I admire Mike Judge for that and wish that more people saw this film over filler eye candy like Avatar and all of the bad romantic comedies and buddy movies that came out this year. I think that EXTRACT can appeal to both your average movie goer that loved OFFICE SPACE and to someone looking for something a little more challenging at the same time while still being a fun flick. 4 1/2 cats“