Office Christmas Party
U.S.A. 2016

Opening 8 Dec 2016

Directed by: Josh Gordon, Will Speck
Writing credits: Justin Malen, Laura Solon, Dan Mazer, Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Principal actors: Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn, T.J. Miller, Jennifer Aniston, Kate McKinnon

Clay (Miller) and Carol (Aniston) Vanstone have assumed responsibility for the family company ZENOTEK after the death of their much-loved father. Clay is laid-back, relaxed, and happy to cooperate with his talented co-workers Josh Parker (Batemann) and Tracy Hughes (Munn). All is well until sister Carol breezes into town after having closed down one of their branches. She is full of doom regarding the future of this main office. What to do? Naturally, one must entice a new customer and what’s the best way to make a lasting impression? Of course: invite him to an office party he will never forget. From this point it’s all high life, with the arrival of every possible holiday decoration and refreshment, including egg nog to drink out of glass penis, as well as a DJ to provide hot music and basketball player Jimmy Butler (playing himself) from the Chicago Bulls team. (The film takes place in Chicago.) Sex is not allowed inside the building – that is what the parking lot is reserved for. As the night wears on, more employees lie in drunken stupors, many with no clothes on; the important customer, Walter Davis (Courtney B. Vance) crashes in an attempt to imitate Tarzan.

Watch the film to see the actors, each talented in individual ways. Jennifer Aniston is excellent as the strong woman who takes charge. Vanessa Bayer and Kate McKinnon might be familiar from Saturday Night Live. Luckily, this opens during the Christmas season (contrary to Why Him? which also plays during the holiday season, but doesn’t come to Germany until January). Pick up your friends and enjoy a fun, brainless evening. I went to my own Christmas party immediately after watching the film, and thought I was still in the cinema, so perhaps fact and fiction are more similar than we will admit. (Becky Tan)