I rarely enjoy movie comedies, mainly because they’re just not funny and the majority of their jokes are recycled and boring. Horrible Bosses falls in the category of fairly good comedies with good performances by the three lead actors, Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis and supporting cast (Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx).Also, I have to admit that some jokes were really funny, but the main reason to see the movie are the performances of Jason, Charlie and Jason. Director Seth Gordon and trio of screenwriters had really given them a chance to shine, even though there weren’t any outstanding scenes or extra-hilarious moments.
Horrible Bosses was interesting to watch also because of Volkswagen Jetta’s product placement. I’ve read that the movie is basically a 90-minute commercial for the car. I could partially agree with that, but Jetta’s integration in the screenplay and in numerous scenes has been done smoothly and professionally. Even though VW Jetta received a lot of screen time, I couldn’t brand this placement as product placement prostitution.
Let’s check VW Jetta’s and other notable placements.
Volkswagen Jetta
Jetta could be seen in several scenes and from several angles. Quite long part of the movie happened in Jetta, which was a great opportunity to show the car and some of its features, especially comfy seats and navigation system.
When Dale (Day) and Kurt (Sudeikis) were waiting for the third member of the gang they were testing the seats in Jetta. “Dude, these seats are crazy comfortable” said Dale and Kurt confirmed “I know, I know, it’s so good.”
Navigation system was a key component in several important scenes, e.g. when the guys started with the search of a contract killer and in the closing minutes. I won’t reveal the ending, but if the guys sometimes mocked the navigation system, they certainly changed their opinion about it.
Fred Perry
Kevin Spacey was running in a Fred Perry jacket (or tracksuit).
Black Berry
Black Berry was a visual placement and was seen in several scenes.
Angry Birds
Dale was seen playing Angry Birds on his mobile phone while waiting outside of Kevin Spacey’s house.
Toyota Prius
Prius has become one of the stars of cars’ product placement in recent years; however its role in Horrible Bosses is very small. It was only seen in the beginning of the movie, as Nick’s (Bateman) car.
iPad
Jennifer Aniston was using iPad to blackmail Dale with some raunchy photos.
FedEx
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Other movies from the ‘Product placement in pictures’ series:
Actually, Bateman’s Prius is seen multiple times during the movie.
-spoiler alert-
Bateman is sitting in it on the phone during the shooting scene. Bateman says “freaking Toyota” when the seat belt locks up.
Sitting it when they get arrested by the cop.
Cop describes the car.
“You were drag racing? In a Prius?”
etc.
Thanks for mentioning Prius.
I have to start taking notes when watching movies :)
what about the voice recorder when the police were searching for it.
Batemans Prius actually gets trashed quite a bit. He has a hard time putting his seatbelt on and says “damn Toyota” and then when he try’s to cover up fleeing harkmans he says he was drag racing to which the cops say “you were drag racing, in a Prius?”