Company Man (2000)

Well I thought...
This was a hilarious movie! I saw it for the first time on IFC and couldn't stop sitting in front of the TV (I hardly watch TV). Now it is one of my favorite movies and it never gets old. Some parts are hard to understand the comedy in them, but once you see it over again-it seems clear and you finally get it-and just laugh! I guarantee you will have a good time watching this and if not, at least it's not like ANY other movie you've ever seen before. And the end credit bits are funny and add to all the laughter you just experienced. At least rent it and give it a shot. Everybody else who didn't enjoy it were just being too critical and pompous-just watch it-it's a movie, not politics!

Hillarious!
I'm surprized this movie hasn't received better reviews. I never get tired of this movie. Denis Leary has a small part, but he does it really well - it shows he can handle large AND small roles. All of the other actors in this movie collectively bring the movie together in a wonderfully cheerful way. Give this movie a shot, its so much more entertaining than you'd ever expect.

Off-beat, clever, goofy
If the three words of the title of my review appeal to you, then this movie should, too. I'd never heard of the lead actor/director/writer (Douglas McGrath) but I found him to be very humorous and enjoyable. Turns out he co-wrote Woody Allen's "Bullets Over Broadway," "Emma," and other excellent films.

Anyway, he is perfect in his role as the wimpy grammar teacher/driver's ed instructor who lies about being a CIA agent in order to impress his domineering wife, and then actually ends up being hired by the CIA. The scene where he corrects the grammar of a fellow-agent in Cuba is great and could be used by teachers everywhere to bring humor to the teaching of grammar and to help students have fun over the "who/whom" conundrum.

However, I hate to single out just that scene, because there are so many good bits in the film. Does every joke work? No. There are a few that fall by the wayside. But, what the heck. There are very few films that keep me laughing all the way through and that have such a great ensemble cast, all of whom pull off their parts to a tee and all of whom know how to work a scene for a good chortle.

For a movie that is not a cliche and that is not your typical Hollywood by-the-numbers comedy give this one a try. Personally, I hope McGrath makes another film soon and that this one gets the attention it deserves.