There’s nothing worse than a horrible boss to make the nine-to-five work day drag.
But for everyone who harbours secret dreams of overcoming workplace tyrants and nightmare employers, here are 5 film heroes who prove it’s possible to come out on top and beat the boss!
Andrea Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada
In 2003, Anne Hathaway made an appearance as Andrea Sachs in the now much-loved comedy, The Devil Wears Prada.
Fresh out of college and thrown straight into to the cut-throat world of fashion, Andrea quickly finds herself the assistant of ice queen and top magazine editor, Miranda Priestly. With Priestly’s tough management style, there’s a high turnover rate among junior employees. Nevertheless, underdog Andrea’s determined to work hard and impress the formidable fashionista. . .
The resilient assistant succeeds, but at what cost? On a big event night in Paris, Andrea realises what the fashion scene is turning her into. Dramatically tossing her work phone into the fountain at Place de la Concorde, she walks away from Priestly and her stuck-up world of vanity before it’s too late. You go, girl!
Peter Gibbons in Office Space
If you’re stuck in the depths of a mid-life crisis and reporting to an absolute idiot of a boss, it’ll take next to no stretch of your imagination to step into the shoes of Peter Gibbons. He’s the likeable hero of Office Space, a 1999 satirical comedy based on fictional software company, Initech.
The computer programmer is sick of the daily grind under Bill Lumbergh’s management. But after a hypnotherapy session goes wrong (or right, depending on how you look at it), Gibbons wakes up with a new lease of life. He ignores boss Lumbergh’s calls all weekend, then rocks up at the office to swipe the man’s parking space and defy all orders. Surprisingly, senior management aren’t appalled – they’re impressed! Much to Lumbergh’s dismay, Peter’s new attitude bags him a promotion.
Darth Vader in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Even if you’re not the biggest sci-fi fanatic, you’re undoubtedly familiar with Darth Vader. And whilst it’s hard to sympathise with this notorious bad guy, you can’t help but feel a little sorry for him (even just for a few moments) in Return of the Jedi. It’s the final instalment of the original trilogy, with one of the most famous endings in cinematic history.
Vader is like putty in the hands of evil Emperor Palpatine throughout the film. But when the cruel ruler of the Galactic Empire tortures Luke Skywalker, Vader’s unwilling to watch on as his son dies. He pushes his master down the reactor chute, sacrificing his own life in the process, to save Skywalker from harm.
Dale Arbus in Horrible Bosses
Whilst most of us wouldn’t say no to seeing the beautiful Jennifer Aniston in the workplace, dental assistant Dale Arbus (played by acting funny man Charlie Day) is fed up with dodging Dr Julia’s unwanted advances. When Arbus shares his dilemma with his closest buds, the guys quickly realise they’re all working for equally difficult employers. That’s when a plan is hatched to kill one another’s horrible bosses. . .
Cue a hilarious series of events in this laugh-out-loud dark comedy. Whilst it doesn’t end in bloodshed, it does end in Dale getting his own back. He scores video footage of Julia in action. It’s just what’s needed to blackmail the sex-mad dentist into behaving professionally.
Kevin Lomax in The Devil’s Advocate
If you think you’re working for a boss for hell, watch The Devil’s Advocate and your employer may not seem all that bad.
This twisted supernatural thriller hit cinemas in 1997. It sees defence attorney Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) offered a new role by top law firm owner, John Milton. But it soon becomes apparent that Milton, played by the legendary Al Pacino, is a horrifying incarnation of Satan himself.
Driving Lomax’s wife to the point of suicide, this demonic employer turns the attorney’s life into a living hell. Milton’s ultimate dark intentions, however, are severed when Lomax makes the final decision to end his own life.
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