GUEST COLUMN: 3 Hilarious Workplace Comedies
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3 Hilarious Workplace Comedies
by Kevin Faber
The workplace, as evidenced by sitcoms like The Office and Parks and Recreation, is a mecca of comedy. So, if you're in the mood for some gut-wrenching laughs, here are three hilarious workplace comedies.
1. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is one of the funniest comedies ever made. If you're a skeptic of Will Ferrell movies, you may have deprived yourself of this absolute gem. In that case, be sure to watch it as soon as possible! Anchorman revolves around Ron Burgundy, a San Diego news anchorman in the seventies. Burgundy, like many anchormen in that time, is revered as a god. He and his news crew practically rule the city. However, this all changes when a woman joins the group. Being men in the seventies, Burgundy and his crew don't welcome this change. This results in a lot of hilarity and extremely sexist behavior. Of course, Ron eventually falls in love with Corningstone (the female anchor). Eventually, the two begin a romance, which soon devolves into a rivalry. If Anchorman was made in any other way, it could have come across as offensive and inappropriate. However, both Ferrell and the creators made sure to portray the men in power as ridiculous. This results in an amazing comedy with a heartfelt ending. By the end, Corningstone and the guys are close enough to have a virtual happy hour!
2. Office Space
Office Space is the classic workplace comedy that everyone needs to see. Not to be confused with The Office, Office Space revolves around disgruntled workers at a tech company. These workers are regularly mistreated by management, which is something pretty much everyone can relate to. One of the more egregious managerial actions involves the firing of Milton, a character that hilariously suffers a lot in the movie. After discovering that Milton had already been fired but wasn't notified, the company decides to just cut off his pay without telling him. That's terrible! Eventually, some of the workers begin a grift. Unfortunately for these employees, the grift does too well, making it obvious that the company was hacked. Fortunately, poor Milton comes to the rescue in the very end, getting his revenge in spectacular fashion. Is the movie an absolute masterpiece? Certainly not. However, its endless array of relatable jokes is sure to make you cackle.
3. Mayhem
Mayhem isn't your classic workplace comedy. In fact, it has some very dramatic and unfunny moments. However, while it's certainly a horror film, Mayhem's comedic elements can't be ignored. The film revolves around Towers and Smythe Consulting, a corrupt firm that experiences horrific justice. In the movie's universe, a "red-eye" virus has begun spreading throughout the world. This virus, which can be identified through red-eye, causes victims to become unhinged and violent. At the beginning of the movie, Towers and Smythe experience an outbreak of the virus. This causes the building to be quarantined without any outside help. Right before the outbreak, the main character (Derek) is fired and used as a scapegoat. So, he, alongside a wronged client named Melanie, takes the resulting anger out on the firm. Everyone in the building goes completely insane. In a different movie, this could have been played out more dramatically. The Belko Experiment is a great example of this. However, Mayhem veers towards the more comedic side. After all, what isn't funny about office workers taking out individual frustrations on each other? If you want a chaotic office-based comedy, this is the movie for you.
When you're at work, you probably don't find a lot of opportunities to laugh. However, these movies make the office seem hilarious. So, sit back and enjoy some amazing workplace humor.
