Extract (2009)

Extract is Mike Judge in deceptively relaxed form: a workplace comedy that starts with the mild hum of everyday dissatisfaction and gradually reveals a wickedly observant satire about desire, stupidity, and the stories we tell ourselves to feel in control. Jason Bateman anchors the film with his gift for making panic look polite, while the supporting cast turns the factory floor into a small-town ecosystem of oddballs, schemes, and perfectly timed bad decisions. The humor is dry, human, and just sharp enough to sting, but there’s a warm undercurrent that keeps the movie likable even when its characters are being spectacularly foolish. If you want big, obvious punchlines, it may feel too low-key, but if you enjoy comedies that sneak up on you with character-driven laughs and Judge’s sly middle-American skewering, it’s an easy recommendation.

Extract is clearly trying to be a low-key workplace sex farce with Mike Judge’s usual eye for corporate absurdity and small, petty desperation. The problem is it rarely commits to being sharp or truly outrageous, so the plot’s messy scheming and escalating chaos can feel more unfocused than funny, with a lot of jokes landing like rough drafts. If you’re coming in expecting the bite and momentum of Office Space, this will likely feel slighter and oddly sleepy, even when the setup promises something nastier. That said, the cast is game and there are scattered moments of dry, observational humor that will work if you’re content with a mellow, uneven comedy rather than a consistent laugh machine.