“Extract” (Miramax Films)
Cartoon Characters Brought To Life
Watching the new Mike Judge film “Extract” is like watching an animated comedy on Fox or MTV and seeing the cartoon characters come to life. None of the people in the film seem to be real. They are all too dumb, too obnoxious or just too crazy. Jason Bateman leads the cast of real actors who go through the paces of the script but even his charm can’t garner a lot of enthusiasm for the movie.
Bateman plays Joel, the owner/operator of an extract manufacturing company. He is a self made man who conceived the product, manufactured it and now operates the company that produces it. He has a small group of employees who work for him and they are a varied bunch. All in all life is good – except on the home front.
Joel and his wife Suzie (Kristen Wiig) have drifted apart, so much so that Joel is thinking about having an affair with a new temp he hired at the plant. Her name is Cindy (Mila Kunis) and she has flirted with Joel.
Joel is encouraged to have the affair by his friend Dean (Ben Affleck) who thinks it will be good for him. He even helps Joel justify it by coming up with the idea of hiring a guy he knows named Brad (Dustin Milligan) to have an affair with Suzie. Brad is a living “Butthead.”
The film seeps along its way with no major events livening up the action. It finally reaches a conclusion and fades away. It will probably make a better cult film like “Office Space” than a major box office success. There will surely be a select group who think it is amazingly clever and entertaining.
Bateman is the best thing in the movie. He plays “everyman” to perfection. Wiig is also good as Suzie. She looks the best she has in years and has a droll comic touch that fits the film. Kunis is okay in her role but doesn’t stand out in the cast, and Affleck is just plain boring.
The movie is rated R for profanity and sexual situations.
Mike Judge is an acquired taste. Many have loved his animated series such as “King of the Hill,” “The Goode Family” and “Beavis and Butthead.” But then there are many others who just aren’t in on his jokes or his style of humor.
‘Extract” is am amusing film but it doesn’t induce major laughing. It just is what it is and no more. For some that will be enough but for the majority it won’t be.
I scored “Extract” a sweet 5 out of 10.