Movie Primer: Extract

This is a short primer for the upcoming dark comedy Extract. This film will have its wide release on August 4th 2009. The trailer for this film can be found at http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/extract/

The Plot: Joel runs a flavor extract company. He is getting close to selling the factory off and making the deal of a lifetime. But a series of unfortunate events at work might cause him to loose everything. On top of that he is dealing with a marriage that is not fulfilling him and a new employee that might end up being quite the temptation. It alls sounds kind of depressing but it is suppose to be a laugh out load sort of disaster.

Star Power: The big start of this movie is Jason Bateman of Arrested Development fame. He certainly brings some comedic gravitas to this movie but he also has a whole lot of great supporting actors. Ben Affleck plays a shaggy bartender and friend to Bateman's Joel while the underrated Kristen Wiig plays Joel's wife. Clifton Collins Jr., and J. K. Simmons also have supporting roles as factory workers. Mila Kunis (from Forgetting Sarah Marshall and That 70s Show) is also in it as a possible love interest. Even Gene Simmons makes a cameo as a lawyer.

Behind the Screen: Director Mike Judge should be a household name when it comes to making people laugh. He is the mastermind behind both Bevis and Butthead and King of the Hill. He has also written and directed the cult comedy hit Office Space. He also directed the satire on American stupidity called Idiocracy. For this movie like many of his other productions he has chosen to produce, write and direct.

What to expect: Office Space was such a great movie it would be pretty hard for a director to make such a good comedy again but Extract has that potential. It is an comedy that focuses mainly on the trials and tribulations of working life. It has a strong lead actor who is no stranger to a good laugh. Also much like Office Space the movie seems to be filled with small characters that are very amusing and are played by very talented actors. Its only major failing in the end might be that it is too similar to Office Space to feel fresh. That remains to be seen but most likely it's going to be worth a look.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1225822/
http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/extract/