‘Office Space’ a timeless favorite

‘I’d say in a given week I probably only do about 15 minutes of real, actual, work’ — Peter Gibbons, “Office Space”

What’s your favorite movie about work? Could it be the same as my favorite? And her favorite? And his favorite? If your answer is “Office Space,” there’s a pretty good chance we’re all in this one together.

“‘Office Space’ is a favorite for a lot of people and there are definitely universal messages but to be honest, there are some people — people who worked during corporate downsizing, who worked with clueless but highly-paid consultants, who had to do remedial tasks that added nothing to their work or the company — who will appreciate it more than others,” says Donald Ricardo, a retired sales representative in Fort Collins, Colorado.

For the unaware, “Office Space” is a 1999 film from Mike Judge that showcases three disgruntled employees who want to get back at an exceptionally bad boss by embezzling money from the company, just as the company is laying off its employees. While that plot is enough, it’s the film’s added touches — the odd attachment to certain office supplies, the ability to manufacture job-related enthusiasm — that makes it a cultural touchpoint for many. The small and large exaggerations of corporate life provide humorous — if not painful — reminders for many unhappy workers.

Sarah Newkirk, a mortgage underwriter in Waterford, Wisconsin, loves the film’s universal message. “Every time I’m feeling bad about my own career, I just remember what Jennifer Aniston says: ‘Peter, most people don’t like their jobs,’” Newkirk writes.

Aaron Halston, a sales manager in Syracuse, New York, says he finds something oddly reassuring in “Office Space” each time he watches it. writing that “work can crush your soul. Then you re-watch ‘Office Space’ for the tenth time and you realize ‘hey, we’re all getting out souls crushed together!”