Visioneers (2007)

Level 3 Visioneer George Washington Winsterhammerman (Zach Galifianakis) is disillusioned with the good life. Employed by the Jeffers Corporation, the largest and friendliest and most profitable corporation in the history of mankind, George has it all in a world where the threat of spontaneous combustion looms. That right, people explode from stress and George is showing early symptoms. Desperate not to explode, George is forced to examine his life. A stable job and comfortable marriage with Michelle (Judy Greer) doesn't make him happy. Even his life coach can't seem to turn George off of auto-pilot. Then his pole-vaulting brother comes town.

Visioneers is a satiric, slightly futuristic black comedy that tries to be the next Office Space. It's not, but it's fun all the same. Thoroughly quirky and oddly random, Visioneers isn't cohesive--sadly, the wheels fall off during the last half of the film.

Zach Galifianakis carries the film with the weight of every corporate drone. The Jeffers morning greeting is something we've all dreamed about. As a descendant of THE George Washington, this George is sad man, bored with routine, but unsure of how to break out of it. Haven't we all felt that way?!

Visioneers doesn't depend on much. Set in a modern, dystopian society, the production is bare bones. It's the cast that imbues the film with life. Judy Greer is top-notch as Michelle. She, too, is looking for happiness and looks to TV personality Sahra (Missi Pyle) and her latest book recommendation '1001 ways to be happy'. Checking them off like clock-work, Michelle is too preoccupied with her own happiness to bother with George or their never-seen-onscreen son, Howard.

As I see it, Visioneers examines the grim reality of life. The duality of the dialogue here is thought-provoking and ultimately the sole reason for viewing. Sadly, the film won't leave a mark on pop-culture thanks to some glaring missteps {and poor marketing}, but overall, Visioneers is a nice compliment to Office Space. If you're a fan of that, you'll want to see this.

J4T: 3 stars