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Head Office (1986)
Released By: HBO Video   Rating: PG-13   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: HBO Video
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Ken Finkleman
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Danny DeVito, Eddie Albert, Jane Seymour, Judge Reinhold, Rick Moranis
Published ID: 2647
UPC: 026359298424,
Plot: With a script that is too anemic for the red-blooded actors featured here, this anorexic comedy moves slowly up and down the corporate ladder with the fortunes and misfortunes of several company men. Jack Issel (Judge Reinhold) gets a VIP position at INC in the PR department (business-speak). Suddenly the corporation's shady activities come to the fore -- especially when a U.S. plant is set to close for a move south of the border where labor is almost free. Enmeshed in these tangles, Jack is hardly prepared to fall in love with the leading activist against the plant closing -- but he does. Meanwhile, a lot of other subplots quickly dispose of potentially budding villains like Stedman (Danny DeVito) the inside trader -- too bad. DeVito and Don King (appearing as himself) would have made a great team. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
Snoozer with a few high points
Added 10/8/2009

Many of the so-called stars of the film (Danny DeVito, for example) are cameo characters (in Rick Moranis's case that's a good thing). The writing is lame and aimless for the first good half hour. * SPOILERS * It suddenly picks up when they smoke a joint on the way to the small town factory they're closing down and Jack, fresh out of school, gives them the truth as to why they'e closing down the factory - it's in the company's best interest. Instead of giving the expected PR bull, he basically tells the truth and suddenly much to everyone's surprise, the press is giving him rave reviews and he gets promoted. After that the movie settles back into the boring rhythm and bland writing of the first part of the movie and again it's about as good as taking sleeping medicine until there's a big meeting with central american arms buyers who are supporting the dictators back home, at which point Jack steals the money, escapes and then donates it to the communists - the head of Jack's company tumbles.

The plot synopsis above is actually a lot more interesting than the movie. I turned this off the first time I watched it after about 20 minutes. When I saw all these glowing reviews I thought I'd better try again. And while it does pick up about midway, it more or less settles back into the same low energy writing of the first half and ends Hollywood style. Not a must-see by any means contrary to what reviews here would indicate. Fortunately it's only 87 minutes. Some of those minutes are longer than others.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Head Office - Look Out Below!
Added 9/11/2009

I used to watch this back in the day on HBO. It was funny then, & it still holds up today. The cast & the cameos are a treat. Judge Reinhold plays Jack, a college grad being thrown up the ladder of a corrupt mega-corporation. Richard Masur plays Jack's 'mentor', Max.

Max: Lesson No.4 - the secret to survival here is never make a decision.
Jack: Never?
Max: Never. The minute you do, your screwed

This is good, plain fun!

I was worried when I saw that the DVD aspect ratio was listed as full-screen (1.33:1), but this comment on the Amazon customer review by Nicholas Moore "nicklesm17" confirms what I've seen on my new DVD --Floridante says: The release is in anamorphic widescreen, but unfortunately it is the wrong aspect ratio. The title credits are presented in the original ratio of 2.35:1, everything else was reduced to a 1.85:1 ratio via pan & scan.-- Good enough for me! It was great to finally see it in wide screen.

Read through the other reviews here, as most have their own takes on this great flick. DIS-CO-NNECT!!

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Office Mania
Added 6/27/2009

I saw this movie years ago and remembered that Rick Moranis' role was particularly funny. I watched the movie again mainly to see him. I wasn't disappointed.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
The Corporate Ladder
Added 10/5/2008

This is a very funny movie, well written and acted. It's a hilarious view of how some people move up in a big corporation. We bought the VHS years ago and wore it out! The DVD version is even better.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Head Office
Added 3/23/2008

This movie is very funny and highly underated. It surprises me that it's never shown on tv.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Snoozer with a few high points
Added 10/8/2009

Many of the so-called stars of the film (Danny DeVito, for example) are cameo characters (in Rick Moranis's case that's a good thing). The writing is lame and aimless for the first good half hour. * SPOILERS * It suddenly picks up when they smoke a joint on the way to the small town factory they're closing down and Jack, fresh out of school, gives them the truth as to why they'e closing down the factory - it's in the company's best interest. Instead of giving the expected PR bull, he basically tells the truth and suddenly much to everyone's surprise, the press is giving him rave reviews and he gets promoted. After that the movie settles back into the boring rhythm and bland writing of the first part of the movie and again it's about as good as taking sleeping medicine until there's a big meeting with central american arms buyers who are supporting the dictators back home, at which point Jack steals the money, escapes and then donates it to the communists - the head of Jack's company tumbles.

The plot synopsis above is actually a lot more interesting than the movie. I turned this off the first time I watched it after about 20 minutes. When I saw all these glowing reviews I thought I'd better try again. And while it does pick up about midway, it more or less settles back into the same low energy writing of the first half and ends Hollywood style. Not a must-see by any means contrary to what reviews here would indicate. Fortunately it's only 87 minutes. Some of those minutes are longer than others.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Head Office - Look Out Below!
Added 9/11/2009

I used to watch this back in the day on HBO. It was funny then, & it still holds up today. The cast & the cameos are a treat. Judge Reinhold plays Jack, a college grad being thrown up the ladder of a corrupt mega-corporation. Richard Masur plays Jack's 'mentor', Max.

Max: Lesson No.4 - the secret to survival here is never make a decision.
Jack: Never?
Max: Never. The minute you do, your screwed

This is good, plain fun!

I was worried when I saw that the DVD aspect ratio was listed as full-screen (1.33:1), but this comment on the Amazon customer review by Nicholas Moore "nicklesm17" confirms what I've seen on my new DVD --Floridante says: The release is in anamorphic widescreen, but unfortunately it is the wrong aspect ratio. The title credits are presented in the original ratio of 2.35:1, everything else was reduced to a 1.85:1 ratio via pan & scan.-- Good enough for me! It was great to finally see it in wide screen.

Read through the other reviews here, as most have their own takes on this great flick. DIS-CO-NNECT!!

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Office Mania
Added 6/27/2009

I saw this movie years ago and remembered that Rick Moranis' role was particularly funny. I watched the movie again mainly to see him. I wasn't disappointed.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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