Extract (2009) is the latest film from Mike Judge, who is best known for his work on King of The Hill and Bevis and Butt Head. Then he made it big with the cult classic Office Space (1999), and promptly went very low key. Recently, Judge has moved back to the big screen with Idiocracy (2006) which started Luke Wilson but went largely unnoticed to most of the public due to limited marketing. With Extract, Judge looks to break through to the main stream audience which has so far eluded him since Office Space.
Offbeat Story with an Offbeat Cast
Extract features the acting talents of Jason Bateman (Arrested Development) and Mila Kunis (Forgetting Sarah Marshal) neither of which have many film credits to their name but perform admirably here. Bateman plays the role of Joel, a down trodden business man who makes his living by manufacturing extracts. While his business is going well his relationship with his wife is stagnant and he bores even himself when talking about his job.
Bateman plays his usual deadpan quick witted character. And while it is no great departure from his rolls on Arrested Development and Hancock (2008), he makes it works for him. The film is geared for an actor like Bateman, he has a lot of quick dialog to work with and a great supporting cast to bounce against, and it shows as he turns in a great performance.
The film also stars Mila Kunis, who plays Cindy, a con-woman who gets wind of an accident at Joel's factory and sees a chance to scam some easy money. Kunis's acting levees much to be desired, but her presence is probably due to her sudden popularity as the “in” hot girl. While her role as flirtatious con-artist is no academy award winner, one would expect more than shy smiles and meaningful looks to advance the plot.
Affleck and Wiig Keep Things Interesting
While Ben Affleck has been a bit of an unknown quantity in Hollywood in recent years, he adds a nice layer of depth to the film. Playing Joel's friend Dean, Affleck plays well off Bateman's timing and dead pan deliveries. While not a key player by any means, this is a great roll for Affleck to get back into the business.
On the other hand Kristen Wiig steals most of the scenes she is in. Wiig has become one of the most recognizable faces on Saturday Night Live. That, coupled with a few small but fantastic rolls in Knocked Up (2007) and Ghost Town (2008), has given her the reputation as one of Hollywood’s up and coming funny women. She shines as Joel’s wife, and is another great foil to Beatmen for most of the film.
Lack of Focus Keeps Extract Back
While Extract is an entertaining film, it does have its problems. An untidy ending among other issues keep this film from being a hit during the dead, summer fall transition for movies. While there is a lot to like about this movie, it lacks the overall shine that would push it to the next level.
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