Corporate Animals: the absurdity of the corporate world

That horror joins comedy is nothing new and, in recent years, we are witnessing a moment in which black humor seems to enjoy a relevant space in cinema. Corporate animals (Patrick Brice, 2019) gives us a parody of large companies, their internal hierarchy and situations which, although far-fetched, seem horrifying to us as well as everyday.

What would happen if, suddenly, employees of the same company were locked up for days? That seems to be the premise of the film in which Demi Moore stands out in the role of Lucy. A role that suits her like a glove: that of a tyrannical boss who tries to appear friendly, who cares little about climate change unless the image of her company depends on it. In short, she is a real wolf in sheep’s clothing who will make her employees angry.

The plot is simple: the members of a company destined for the marketing of edible cutlery go on a trip organized by it. After carrying out various activities, they go to a cave that, after an earthquake, is blocked preventing the workers and Lucy herself from going outside. In a suffocating and claustrophobic space, all the work quarrels will come to light as they fight to survive.

The crazy will soon take over the scene, cannibalism will combat hunger while we, as spectators, witness a spectacle that goes from the horrible to the laughable in a matter of seconds. Despite the bad reviews obtained in certain media, the truth is that Corporate Animals It is one of those films that invite us to laugh at our present and relieve some of the tensions that we suffer daily at work..

Corporate Animals: an extreme situation

If what we expect is to see a great comedy, full of intelligent humor that invites us to reflect, then it is better not to see Corporate animals. However, If what we want is to entertain ourselves, enjoy ourselves and simply let ourselves be carried away by a somewhat absurd laugh, Corporate animals is what we need.

I say we need because, sometimes, daily obligations, work and stress are an obstacle to disconnecting and, in that case, the best medicine is none other than laughter, forgetting a little about our routine. It is true that the film It reminds us, in part, of all those activities of contemporary life, activities that become absurd at times. and that, for fear of losing our job, we end up accepting with a bitter smile.

Currently, we live in a time in which some large companies are more like a schoolyard than a serious workplace; in which Creativity is not rewarded as much as obedience.. And that is precisely what brings us Corporate Animalsa critique of these current models, of the tyranny and power that our workplace can exert over us to, finally, mock competition between equals and point towards a single culprit who, in this case, will be Lucy.

From the first minutes of footage, We observe how some of the employees agree to carry out activities that, voluntarily, they would never have wanted to do. Why do they accept? Simply, out of fear of losing their job, fear of reprisals, or even fear of not being promoted professionally.

Sometimes, we find ourselves faced with unpleasant situations or situations with which we do not agree; A fear takes over us, preventing us from saying what we think. So, Corporate Animals draws a fairly absurd, but terribly everyday scenario.

In a small space where they fight to survive, these individuals will bring out their wildest side with the sole purpose of not dying after the collapse. At the same time, The darkest side of the company will be seen at the hands of a ruthless boss who manipulates her employees at will.. But if they have learned anything from this great adventure, it is that teamwork can significantly increase what can be achieved individually and, thus, in an ironic, dark and laughable way, the workers will look for a way to end their ordeal. .

In extreme situations, humans let ourselves be carried away – or are tempted to let ourselves be carried away – by our instincts and survival. In this situation, losing your job is no longer as relevant as the possibility of losing your own life. This way, We face an endless number of crazy situations that will put the untouchable boss in a not so privileged place.

The cave, in reality, is nothing more than a metaphor for the bonds of everyday life.a scenario that will serve to put all the company’s dirty laundry on the table.

A contemporary satire

Surely, Corporate Animals pass without pain or glory for the general public. And it is that It is still just another comedy, which has not invented anything new and is closely linked to American canons. which, from a European point of view, are more absurd than intelligent. Well, she is not exempt from falling into the easy joke, into the archetypal and from forgetting, from time to time, the plausible.

Despite this, It is still interesting to analyze a comedy that questions certain behaviors of large companies, the titans of the business world.. Because, in reality, its intention is not serious or deep, but rather it aims to make us smile and invite us to imagine the wildest of revenge towards those who oppress us.

Somehow, puts before our eyes the most macabre dream of everything you would say to the most tyrannical boss if you didn’t have to measure consequences. He also criticizes corporate societies in which the brand image ends up nullifying the individual, turning him into a number and squeezing him to get the maximum possible benefit in exchange for a very low salary.

A product of pure escape, that is Corporate Animalsa comedy that will not bring us anything innovative, nothing more than a good laugh, although we can empathize with it. Demi Moore is comfortable in a character that the public will soon identify as “that boss who” and who does not hesitate to put her employees in situations that threaten her own physical integrity.

In short, we are faced with an absurd and crazy comedy, very American, and probably easily forgettable, but not irrelevant. A satire of the corporate image, of the nonsense that prevails in the world of large companies.

Its message, despite how stupid it may seem, is more powerful than it appears and, surely, more than one can identify with one of its characters.. Finally, this absurd and macabre joke ends up conquering us; although it is most likely that it will not go beyond that, an absurd and macabre joke with no major relevance to the story.

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