Extract
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Movie Reviews of Extract
Movie Review: Not Enough Juice in this Lemon
Summary: 3 Stars
I might have been too harsh in the subject heading seeing I gave it 3 stars, however, I feel that the film lacked the laughs that the trailer suggested. I really like Jason Bateman and he pulled off his role as well as one could possibly imagine, and quite honestly, so did the rest of the cast. In fact, the actors and actresses all did their job perfectly in this film, the problem lies in the script.
The story is of a young man Joel (Bateman) who owns a factory that makes extract, be it vanilla, root beer or the new concoction: cookie dough. In comes the temp agent Cindy (Mila Kunis) who is interested in conning her way to meet with an employer who out seeking a 1 million dollar settlement from the extract company. Meanwhile, Joel is having marital problems with his wife Suzie (Kristen Wiig) who is not offering sex leaving Joel frustrated.
Now these are the set up stories, all of which lead to very little or interesting situations. Joel's friend Dean (Ben Affleck) offers many suggestions, most of which are drug related and do little to provoke a reasonable solution or even funny moments. In fact, Joel comes off as naive by taking his suggestions in the first place. The worst situation Joel finds himself is when he hires a young guy to play a pool man to seduce his wife to test her fidelity, but even that went sour and gave no insight into the dilemma.
The problem of the film seemed to lie in the fact that the characters were not developed enough, and the issues between the extract company and Joel's married life are two plots that co-exist, but never merge or cross paths. Cindy's conning scheme is only tangential to the extract company.
I really wanted to enjoy this movie more than I did, but it just finished without anything really happening.
Movie Review: Extract Movie Review
Summary: 3 Stars
"Extract" is written and directed by Mike Judge and follows Joel, played by Jason Bateman who owns and manages an extract company. He deals with issues like assembly line worker stupidity, theft in the workplace, not getting action with his wife and being attracted to a new temp played by Mila Kunis. Joel tries to pay a jigalo (after being drugged by Ben Affleck) to have sex with his wife so he wouldn't feel guilty pursuing the new hot girl. Chaos always ensues.
I've loved Jason Batemen since Arrested Development and he is still the straight guy among idiots and his character is entirely too nice in this movie. I guess that's my big complaint on this one - he's nicer and more forgiving than any normal person, but darn it all I guess that's why we like him.
This movie was really funny and had a lot of ridiculous situations. I couldn't believe I liked Ben Affleck in this movie! He usually drives me nuts but here he was a character so different from the usual and with his appearance....I was able to almost forget it was Ben Affleck and laugh!
Other great additions to the cast, J.K. Simmons, Beth Grant whom I will always love from Donnie Darko, and Kristen Wiig who plays Joel's wife, Suzie. Also David Koechner plays a completely oblivious annoyingly pushy neighbor that you just love to hate. This was a fun ensemble piece and the best cameo of all -- Gene Simmons as a lawyer suing Joel for everything he's worth. If I tried to explain what was funny about this all, it would just give away too many jokes. Give this one a rental, you won't regret it. I bet it grows funnier with multiple viewings.
Movie Review: Moments of fun, but I wanted to love it.... and didn't
Summary: 3 Stars
I've been waiting or this movie. Loved Office Space, even really enjoyed Idiocracy. I heard some mixed reviews which tempered my expectations, but even so, this was a disappointing and very uneven movie.
Jason Bateman plays his straight-laced, deadpan comedy to the hilt, much as he did in Arrested Development. He is Joel, the owner of a factory employing a real assortment of underachieving, funny characters. With an offer from General Mills to buy the plant and make him rich, Joel looks forward to early retirement. On the home front, he is a sexually frustrated husband with an unreceptive wife and an unrelentingly dull neighbor.
With moments of genius, the movie was also dragged down by some poor realization of comedic potential. Kristin Wiig, a funny and versatile comedienne, is wasted as the housewife, and although she certainly has enough scenes, the writing doesn't allow her to perform.
The various subplots didn't mesh as well as I expected. Instead of a complete tale, this felt like a few sitcom episodes woven together.
That said, there are some great scenes. You will never think about call-waiting again. The personal injury lawyer is fantastic. Ben Affleck does a fine job as the slacker friend.
In retrospect, this is a rental. I wouldn't choose to pay theater prices for this film.
Movie Review: Risky Extract Business
Summary: 3 Stars
"Extract," has one of those plots that seem more plausible when you're sitting in an air-conditioned theater, rather than describing it afterwards. Bateman plays Joel, the owner of an extract factory, who is experiencing difficulties both at work and in his marriage. His wife won't have sex with him, if he gets home at a certain hour, which is often, as he gets waylaid by his overly friendly neighbor before he's even out of the car. At the factory, he must deal with employees that are not rocket scientists (to put it generously), a potential lawsuit, and a gorgeous young temp (Kunis) who is planning a scam. His bartender friend (Ben Affleck) gives him advice, but following only tends to worsen things.
"Extract," has a great cast including Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Mila Kunis, Ben Affleck, Gene Simmons (as a personal injury lawyer), and the blond surfer guy from the new Beverly Hills
90210. Some parts were hilarious, but others very dull; though because it was from the creator of "Office Space," I wanted to like it more than I did.
Movie Review: Perceptive Satire But Not As Funny As I Expected
Summary: 3 Stars
Joel (Jason Bateman) is the owner of a successful flavor extract company. But his plans to sell the company are threatened following a testicle injury to an employee named Step (Clifton Collins). Step is at first willing to settle until being manipulated by an attractive con artist (Mila Kinus).There is also a sub-plot involving Joel's sexual frustration, his bored wife (Kristen Wiig) and a not so bright "gigolo".
I've been a fan of writer/director Mike Judge since his "Beavis And Butthead" days. So I had high expectations for this movie. It does feature Judge's knack for observation on the lives of everday people, especially the not so bright. But somehow the plot just never comes together in a way that I found compelling. Also the laughs are only occassional rather than frequent. I still appreciate Judge's insightfully satirical take on American life. But he's got to deliver the laughs in a bigger way if he is going to make it work.