The Office (The American television show review)

 I typically do movie reviews, but here is something new. It has been (to me) one of the greatest American television shows for the past decade. A show that ran for nine years, The Office, touched the hearts and tickled the funny bones of Americans across the country and sadly concluded after nine seasons, not so long ago. Some say that the humor was dry and the emotions weren't real, but I am here to tell you otherwise.

When The Office first launched it's pilot episode it received terrible reviews, leaving the cast to think that they wouldn't be returning for a second season. Of course this was a remake of the British version, which many viewers were comparing it to. What viewers really needed, was a chance to warm up to a show that was so different from average programs.

What made The Office unique? Other than a cast ever so fantastically put together, The Office took an interesting television show perspective by having it set up as a "documentary" on the office employees. This way, the employees of the paper company, Dunder Mifflin, would know they were being filmed, and could even be interviewed individually from the rest of the office allowing the viewers to learn more about each interesting character.

At first glance, it doesn't look like much, but what TV show does? If you know nothing about a TV show then you will be quick to judge it, ruling it in your list to watch or marking it off. You can't look at The Office as just a comedy. Sure, there is an abundance of jokes and moments that will have you rolling over, but this show is about the characters and their relation to people like you and I. They don't kill people, live on the edge, become millionaires by selling drugs, or work as spy's for the government. They are people we can relate to, and in time you come to love them for who they are, far from perfect, yet fascinating in so many aspects. The drama, the hilarious awkward moments, the relationships, the disagreements, and general interaction between co-workers make this show what it is.

Fans all over the country have shared the laughs and the tears because they have had their own similar experiences. Just think about it...How do you get to know someone? You spend time with them, and over the last nine years I feel like I have spent time with every one of these amazing characters, played by incredible actors such as John Krasinski, Ed Helms, Steve Carell,  Jenna Fischer, and Rainn Wilson, just to mention a few.

The Office is powerful enough to reach you in ways never before achieved by a television show. It makes you want to be there, in the office, with the employees, even if only for a moment so that you can have a feel of what it's like for yourself. The relationships feel real, the characters seem real, and whether you know a particular actor from other movies or shows, you'll only think of them as their office character after watching it.

So what's it about? The Office, seasons 1 through 7, feature Michael Scott (Steve Carell), who is a excellent salesman, but an ill-qualified idiot when it comes to managing a branch of a paper company. His heart is always in the right place and he cares for his employees, seeing them as his family, but his absent minded, luny self, prevents him from ever "properly" managing them. He is always procrastinating, causing office disturbances, wasting his employees time with senseless meetings, searching for his true love, and trying to be (in his mind) the best boss he can be. Though annoying to his employees half the time, Steve's character is a great guy who helped make the show such a success along with the other fantastic roles of every office member.

No two characters are alike, and that kind of diversity shouts success in my mind, because without character uniqueness, The Office wouldn't have become what it did. Characters of different beliefs, race, sexual orientation, senses of humor, and backgrounds showed the world just how well they could work through the rough times and continue to strengthen a bond that no force could penetrate. A bond felt by viewers for nine years and a bond felt by the characters and the actors playing them. A bond that only derives from The Office.

The Number 23

Tonight I watched a movie that I have had for a while now, but just never got around to watching. I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that I didn't really know much about this movie and I was hesitant about giving it a shot. Jim Carrey is typically known for humorous roles, however this movie (from what I had heard) wasn't a comedy, so naturally I was skeptical.

The Number 23 stars Jim Carrey as Walter Sparrow, an average guy with an average job (dog catcher). He has a wife, Agatha Sparrow (played by Virginia Madsen) and a son, Robin Sparrow (Logan Lerman). This typical man living his typical life finds himself "thrown out of orbit" so to speak when he has an "off day" which makes him late meeting his wife after work. While she is waiting for him she comes across a book at a book store where she was passing the time waiting for him. Once he finally arrives she tries to convince him that he should give it a go. Needless to say, he eventually picks it up, not expecting to be impressed and quickly becomes consumed in it's pages. 

The book speaks of the number 23 and how it took over the life of the main character, Fingerling, who is a detective. The numbers ruin all that he is, and drive him to things he wouldn't normally do. This terrible curse begins to affect the life of our ordinary Walter Sparrow who thought he would just be reading some ridiculous book and before he knows it, he too is losing his sanity and at the same time unveiling the shocking truth behind the book.

That is a brief description without revealing too much about the movie. I certainly don't want to ruin it for anyone, but simply give a description for those who don't know anything about the film.

I would definitely encourage others to see this movie for many reasons. For starters, the movie throws us viewers off a few times leading us to think we had figured it out, when indeed we hadn't. As a viewer of this film I could eventually feel for Walter once I reached a point in the movie that I thought he was on to something and not just crazy. What's more fascinating is that I never really knew for sure if he wasn't just crazy though. This creative story line designed to keep viewers in question about what will happen next, is a magnificent piece of work.

Secondly, I must say that Jim Carrey surprised me taking on such a role. I wasn't sure if he could pull it off but he proved me wrong. Jim Carrey is a man associated with laughter and silliness, but watching this movie I quickly adapted to his character Walter and the fact that it wasn't a humor filled role. That being said, this portrays Jim Carrey's true skills as an actor. Many actors and actresses stick to a specific or select type of role, meaning it takes talent to pull off a role so opposite that of which an actor or actress is accustomed to playing. Well done sir, well done.

Lastly, what I find fascinating about this film is it's relation to real life events. Sure, the plot wasn't based on a real life event, but there are people who believe such things. Who let themselves become obsessed with something, ultimately ruining their life. As sad as it is, the strange, erie aspects of such cases make for some excellent cinema entertainment.

Seen the film? Chime in, let me know your thoughts! I'm no expert, and I'm only here to express my opinion. Feel free to comment.