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If you've ever worked in an office, you'll probably recognize a little of yourself in Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston). A low level software analyst for a small computer company, Peter toils grimly through each day, his only reward the fact that it will eventually come to an end. It's easy to believe that at one time Peter was probably a devoted, capable employee but now, he works long hours in a thankless job with few rewards. Most of his coworkers seem equally dissatisfied with what they do, but they make a good show of pretending to enjoy it anyway. Most of them don't seem to like one another's company, but for the most part they are able to successfully simulate friendships long enough to make it through an eight hour work day. Peter's boss (Gary Cole, as the immortal Bill Lumbergh) doesn't understand what his employees do, so he makes up for it by micromanaging and harassing them on an hourly basis.

The office itself is a sea of drab, colorless cubicles bathed in insipid vitamin D depleting ultraviolet light and ventilated with stale, recirculated air. After years of working in this soul rotting, toxic environment Peter seems to be at the point where he's lost the ability to enjoy life. To make matters worse, he's experiencing a lull in his relationship with his shrill and manipulative girlfriend, depriving him even of that to look forward to at the end of the day. But coming to work isn't entirely without an upside.

Long suffering colleagues Samir (Ajay Naidu) and Michael (David Herman) are in the same predicament, and they spend their lunch breaks together at a kitschy restaurant next door. There, the three friends commiserate about the future while Peter obsesses over one of the waitresses (Jennifer Aniston). They fantasize about changing their lives, and exacting revenge against the company they work for – but none of them has the motivation to act on any of it. After all, change is hard, and upgrading one's life is a chaotic process. Even people who are unhappy with their lives learn to appreciate the predictability of their misery, and often decide to leave well enough alone.

But change has a way of forcing itself upon us, and so it is with Peter and his friends. A freak accident suddenly lets Peter feel free of his inhibitions toward his girlfriend and his job. He frees himself of his unpleasant life-partner and begins showing up for work whenever he feels like it. A sudden series of cutbacks at the office lead to Samir and Michael's jobs being in jeopardy, and an unexpected windfall for Peter. Suddenly the three friends are in a position where their oft discussed act of industrial espionage seems like it might be a good idea. The results of their actions lead to some of the funniest things you'll ever see – in a movie based on corporate bondage and post-collegiate disillusionment.

The most refreshing aspect of Office Space is the fact that while it deals with issues most of us cope with at one point or another, the film chooses to make light of it rather than preach about it. Peter and his friends are only slightly absurd caricatures of real people you see every day, and their problems are modest exaggerations of issues we all have. The lengths to which these characters extend themselves to give meaning to their lives are ridiculously comical, and the reason you'll laugh is because it is so familiar. The description I gave earlier is remarkably similar to every job I've ever had. And at my office I'm surrounded every day by people who hate what they do but are afraid to do anything about it because complaining about your life is easier than changing it.

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