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During the holiday season, things can get a little…tense. We often get caught up in the stress of holiday shopping and the drama of strained family relationships, and we try to be on our very best behavior during holiday parties. But in Office Christmas Party, a bunch of employees take full advantage of the chance to let loose during a stressful time.
Office Christmas Party celebrates the holidays with the employees of the Chicago branch of tech company Zenotek. Morale is already pretty low—and then the company’s straight-laced CEO, Carol (Jennifer Aniston), shows up to announce that major layoffs and cost-cutting measures are coming. Desperate to save the branch, Carol’s generally incompetent brother, Clay (T. J. Miller), and his loyal team members set out to land a major contract by throwing a massive holiday party to impress a prospective client. But it isn’t long before things spiral wildly out of control.
This is definitely unlike any holiday party that your company has ever thrown. It starts out with an office full of misfits, a bumbling boss in a Santa suit, and a whole lot of alcohol, and (no surprise) it soon turns into over-the-top insanity.
Of course, there’s a story here—about sibling rivalry and corporate desperation—but that’s really a minor part of the film. Because while it gives the craziness a little bit of structure, it’s not what you’ll remember when it’s all over.
The best thing about Office Christmas Party is its cast. Nearly every member of this huge comic ensemble brings something fun to the party. T. J. Miller is wacky and hilarious yet also surprisingly sweet as the eccentric boss who truly wants to help his employees. Jason Bateman is as dry and sarcastic as ever as the boss’s responsible, straight-laced right hand man. And Jennifer Aniston is once again so very good at being bad as the cold-hearted CEO. Kate McKinnon also brings her own brand of humor as the company’s awkward HR director, while other supporting cast members (like Rob Corddry) bring even more hilarity to this raucous bash.
Granted, there are a few moments when the wackiness goes a little too far—and, admittedly, not every gag works. But it’s clear that the cast had a whole lot of fun making this movie—and it’s all wild and crazy and ridiculous enough that it’ll keep audiences laughing through the madness.
If you’re in need of an outrageous escape during the hectic holiday season, you won’t be disappointed by Office Christmas Party. The rowdy office antics and the massive comic cast make for a whole lot of madcap Christmas fun.
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