Extract - B+

In theaters. Rated R, 95 minutes. Trailer.

Leave it to writer/director Mike Judge (Office Space, Idiocracy) to make a funny film with conservative themes like hard work, ownership, and bloodsucking lawyers. In Extract, Judge considers the plight of the self-made man, the boss of his own factory, his marriage and his whiny employees. Jason Bateman stars as Joel, who started an extract company and is now living a nice life somewhere in the midwest with his wife, Suzie (Kristen Wiig). Along for the ride are the bad girl Cindy (Mila Kunis), the goofy manager (JK Simmons), and the stoner friend, Dean (Ben Affleck). Click below for more EXTRACT:

Joel is happy with his 7 series BMW and for the most part likes running his company, but he and Suzie have become a 'brother/sister' couple and he is sexually frustrated. When rampant criminal/manipulator Cindy shows up as a new temp worker at his plant, he is tempted. Dean convinces him to hire a gigolo to temp Suzie - if she goes for it, he will ostensibly have a 'free one' and be able to pursue Cindy sans guilt. Things don't go accordingly to plan and Joel goes through a series of situations that make him appreciate the life he has.

The film should be a B, but Judge's characters, worldview and sensibilities are so similar to my own that I just enjoyed the film too much to give it a B. Joel is tempted by Cindy, but would never consider cheating on his wife - he's got a tough bark but no bite, always capitulating or fending off a conflict. There are several other funny characters, mostly David Koechner as Nathan the super-annoying neighbor. I was laughing so hard as Nathan approached Joel's car and Joel tried to get away from him time after time, but he gets sucked into being nice. Other standouts were the rocker/forklift operator, Step's half-brother (drinking Pepsi), Beth Grant as the perfect gripey older southern woman and Gene Simmons in a surprisingly funny turn (I can't stand him in real life) as a sleazy lawyer suing Joel's company.

Judge does a great job of writing about a mature marriage, the plight of the boss, the idiotic workers, and the ways a pretty girl manipulates to get her way. He also really drills down on the impact a lawsuit can have on a company and people's lives and how hard it is to be an owner of a business. The film reminded me a lot of Alexander Payne's writing style, mostly Election. Worth your time.

Bonus points for a great 'old country' soundtrack including an opening song from Johnny Paycheck.