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First, the Recap:
The workplace. The office. That wonderful locale that represents our current place of employment. Well, ok, it may not actually be that RIGHT now (thanks SO much, COVID-19!!), but you get the picture. And within this vibrant domain, have we all not run into those particular individuals who just–stick out. Whether this is for the good or ill, THAT remains to be seen. In a small accounting firm, dual bosses Charles (Ray Bergen) and Maryanne (Kathy McCort) have had some challenges finding “the one”, that singular employee who will elevate their business during tax season. Upon believing they’ve finally been successful with new hire Rebecca (Coco Conroy), it causes them to have a chance to reminisce about their younger selves (Timothy J. Cox & Colleen Sproull) while reflecting on three former employees–Jimmy (Erin Patrick Miller), Amy (Kate McGarrigle), and Susan (Maryann Lonergan)–who engender fond recollections–or not?
Next, my Mind:
It’s a journey of personal quirks, annoying habits, the awkwardness of confrontation, the desire to give second chances, business environments, and office politics shaken AND stirred with a touch of naiveté and a total, absolute amount of hilarity both subtle and blatant, all within the confines of only eleven wonderfully paced, fully entertaining minutes thanks to the short film effort from writer/director/producer Chase Pearson and producer Emily Mullholand. It’s the ability to execute relatable narratives that address real life experiences we’ve all shared in some form that continues to make the indie film arena the place to come and witness projects such as this, and it likewise offers another opportunity for the greater film-going masses to realize why this still as of yet fully accepted and acknowledged platform of filmmaking deserves its chance to shine brighter and even change the face of movies overall while genuinely offering quality levels of engaging stories and often just plain fun with heart and soul evident at its core.
Here, in the context of the collection of memories two long-standing business owners quietly expounding about the not-always-so-great moments they’ve shared with a bevy of here today/gone tomorrow employees whose hysterically obvious dysfunctions affect the work atmosphere in equally less-than-subtle but oh-so-funny ways, the narrative speaks to just how much we really DON’T really know people around us or what they may or may not be capable of, their actual motivations, and just how they can or cannot fit into the position in which we’ve placed them, whether as a boss or fellow co-worker. Now, this also isn’t trying to paint a portrait of a world where everyone we encounter has some dire habit or something overtly bad about them, but it more stands to reason that our assumptions about others based on having less than all the facts can really put us into strange realities and/or reveal unanticipated facets of said people, and the film does a masterful job at poking fun at it while making a wholly legitimate statement about it all.
What really aids in the film’s humor factor is exactly how deftly and to what specific degree the film addresses each of its primary “here’s an example of” character’s flaws and turns it into beautifully orchestrated sequences of jocularity, intentionally exaggerating their at first hidden faults that are then exposed through sets of purposefully placed moments that emphasize not only how they’re eccentricities manifest in the workplace, but how their ultimately long-suffering bosses choose to handle it with each one, which in itself also makes a totally valid point about the notions of how we so wish never to have to address someone’s imperfections of attitude, but rather either just put up with it or otherwise try to eliminate it via the most inane, non-adversarial means. This, for me anyway, very much pokes a little fun at the overtly “PC” world we currently reside in, as there’s such an absurd focus on not offending anyone, that it ends up getting in the way of totally appropriate actions or decisions that need to be made for the good of all.
To put the final bit of impact on these concepts, the film’s finale is a complete hoot and sums up the entire story so wonderfully and with that wry comedic spirit. It’s an ensemble cast here, which this critic always enjoys, and everyone plays their parts with gusto and the perfect level of needed playfulness with touches of dramatic flare to buoy the consistent underlying insanity being portrayed. Bergen and McCort honestly make you feel like they’re the aunt and uncle, or grandmother and grandfather you always wanted to have in their roles as the elder versions of Charles and Maryanne, a kind-hearted duo who only wish the best for their business and everyone who works for them, but perhaps to a fault, as having to face an employee down about habits or attitudes that require firing them isn’t precisely their strong suit. Watching the pair navigate both their present and their past is a total riot and yet so undeniably endearing, which only makes their performances that much more fun to engage with.
The ongoing marvelousness that is character actor supreme Timothy J. Cox continues his long-running streak of excellence in his role as the younger Charles, a man of conviction and business savvy yet with no actual backbone to really entertain hard choices when faced with them, especially when it comes to those working in the office. Cox is a master at deadpan and also subtle but uproariously funny delivery, and I felt that comes out well here on both levels through this character. Basically, another winning performance. Likewise, Sproull engenders the other half of the sweet-hearted pair in her younger years in fine fashion as Maryanne, who perhaps at least has a notion to take care of business when needed, yet still remains true to the couple’s non-combative approaches to rectifying situations. It’s so believable and, as stated above, relatable, and Sproull certainly makes you wish you own boss was at least a LITTLE more like that!
Miller, McGarrigle, Lonergan, and Conroy (no, NOT a new law firm! Stop it! But, it DOES have that ring…) all do an exceptional job at playing the respective employees of note that the story finds its foundations on, each portraying their character’s particular, absolutely riotous idiosyncrasies with gusto and a sense of magnificently joyful mischievousness that comes through so well in their performances. I would honestly love to expand more, but truthfully, you really need to watch the film to appreciate each one and I don’t wish to spoil anything about the roles they’re playing. Suffice it to say, it’s WAY worth seeing them in this! Supporting appearances are made by Joan Shangold as business client Mrs. Collins, a character who’s quite–a character, Greer Barnes as an FBI agent, along with Elis Xhafa, Craig Gass, Mike Drew, and Anthony Ferrera.
In total, “The Jungle of Accounting” is like a strange and wondrous amalgamation of ideas about the workplace that herald to the humorous renderings from efforts like “The Office”, Dilbert, and any other medium that illustrates the actual, often preposterous truths founds in the business world and its frameworks while also making a strong argument for realizing that sometimes, you really DO need to address a problem head-on, with firm but ideally level-headed tact, so that things just might work in everyone’s favor while you still manage to get out of it what you desire. Bosses, take notes!
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
