The 1990s was an incredible decade in the development and evolution ofcomedyfilms. Between the emergence of new stars like Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, and Chris Farley to the innumerable number of films now considered to be classics, it was a great 10 years for anyone who liked to go to the movie theater and laugh. Considering that comedy films haven’t been as frequent in the last few years, as they’re often sent directly tostreaming services like Netflixand Prime Video, it’s easy to look back at the 1990s with nostalgia. There are many contenders for the best of the decade, but 1999’sOffice Spacetakes the prize.
Conceived byBeavis and Butt-Headcreator Mike Judge,Office Spacefollows the programmer Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston) as he spends grueling day after day working at the software company Intech. Peter and his co-workers Samir Nagheenanajar (Ajay Naidu) and Michael Bolton (David Herman) reflect on their constant misery, but it doesn’t seem like the company is going to make any changes anytime soon. However, Peter has a transformative experience and decides to start acting out, skipping work, and ignoring his responsibilities. Hilariously, this is what allows him to rise up the corporate ladder.Office Spacedeserves its legendary cult status and stands as the crowning achievement of a great decade of comedy.
A Relatable Environment and Premise
Office Spacehas a premise so universally relatable that comedies have been trying to replicate it ever since. In many ways, both the British and American versions ofThe Officeattempted to recreate the same magic that Judge has conceived of with their workplace settings. The best aspect ofOffice Spaceis the realism with which Peter’s daily tasks are handled. He doesn’t go up against any larger-than-life obstacles, but simply hearing the same speeches every day, dealing with his obnoxious co-workers, and being forced to work overtime and on weekends is enough to drive him to the point of insanity. It’s something that anyone who had ever had a job that they hated could relate to.
Related:How Office Space Is Still an Accurate Portrayal of Modern Office Culture
Some films and television shows that were contemporary when they were released in the 1990s are completely ridiculous now based on the evolution of technology.Hackersis certainly a fun movie, but the film’s depiction of cyber crimes is absurd compared to the way tech has changed. WhileOffice Spacecertainly has some updated terminology, it perfectly captures what it was like to live in the 1990s. The pop-cultural and technological references now make the film feel like a flawless period piece, and younger viewers are able to enjoy it if they want to learn about the decade. It also might be nostalgic for those who experienced similar situations at work during the time thatOffice Spacewas first released.
The Amazing Cast
Livingston isn’t always given the credit that he deserves; it’s easy to forget that he’s in such varied programs as HBO’sBand of BrothersandBoardwalk Empireto a slew of intimate dramedies likeTully, Drinking Buddies,andSwingers. Unlike other comedy stars of the 1990s, Livingston wasn’t known for his idiosyncrasies. He simply nailed playing a relatable, average character that the audience could see themselves in.Office Spaceallowed him to interact with Jennifer Aniston, who was at the peak of her career during the success ofFriends. Aniston co-stars as Joanna, a timid waitress who Peter instantly falls in love with; it’s only after his decision to rebel that he has the confidence to ask her out on a date. Their scenes together are so charming that they feel like they could be the basis of a standalone romantic comedy.
Related:Stephen Root is Still Signing Red Swingline Staplers Thanks to Office Space
While the two leads are unquestionably charming,Office Spacealso has a deep bench of character actors who deliver performances that are still iconic today. Gary Cole gives a hilarious performance as Bill Lumbergh, Peter’s dull and clueless supervisor who seems to be bored no matter what; Lumbergh’s droning voice literally haunts Peter’s dreams in one of the film’s best scenes. It’s the type of character that audiences might cringe seeing, as they may have had a personal experience with an employer that reminded them of Lumbergh.
Stephen Root ofBarryfame also gives a hilarious small role as Milton Waddams, a timid and obsessive collator who doesn’t realize that he’s been fired from the company for five years. Root’s inaudible lines and devotion to his red stapler create a character who is simultaneously hilarious, tragic, obnoxious, and sympathetic. Thankfully, Milton ends up getting a happy ending by the time that the film comes to a close.
An Earnest Message
An issue that many modern comedies have is that they’re so intent on shocking the audience with extreme moments of daring or gross-out humor that they forget to have an actual message. A film likeHorrible Bosses, which is clearly inspired byOffice Space, addresses similar themes about the redundancy of working conditions, but does not offer a solution that the audience can take away. Killing your bosses is a fun premise for a comedy, butOffice Spacepresents a fairly realistic ending. After a heart-to-heart conversation with Joanna, Peter realizes that “everyone hates their jobs,” and decides to live honorably. He even finds a new position he may enjoy when he begins working construction with his goofy neighbor Lawrence (Diedrich Bader).
The endearing message is a large reason whyOffice Spaceremains so popular. Livingston said (viaEW) that “the nicest thing people say to me is, “Every time I watchOffice Space, I feel better,” and producer Tom Rothman said “I’ve worked on movies that have won Best Picture Oscars, but I hopeOffice Spacewill be ahead of all of them in my obituary.”Roger Ebert notedthat “no individual detail of office routine is too absurd to be believed, but together they add up to stark, staring insanity.”
