The Office Review

In the age of reality TV shows, it's about time we have a reality TV spoof.  The Office is called a mockumentary since they make it appear like a reality show, but in truth none of it is real.  To the passer by it may seem like a lame show, but once you get to know a few of the characters, you'll really enjoy it.

The Premise
Steve Carell (Michael) leads this hilarious cast of "normal" people through their "normal" office jobs.  I say "normal" in quotes because although much of the scenario is very much like a real office job, much of it is just plain zany.  This is a lot like Steve Carell's movie Little Miss Sunshine in the way it combines regular life with crazy scenarios. 

How zany does it get?  Here's an example.  One of my favorite episodes is one where multiple people in the office convince Dwight that it is Friday.  They talk about last night's episode of The Apprentice, they make fake phone calls as if they are making plans since tomorrow is Saturday, and other fun tricks.  By the time it is Friday, Dwight is mysteriously not at his desk.... until after noon when he finally realized it was not Saturday and rushes to get to work. 

That most likely wouldn't happen in real life but you can imagine how funny it would be if it did!  We make jokes with our coworkers but usually only for a few minutes before we say "just kidding".  Rainn Wilson plays Dwight and is really the joke of this office.  People play pranks on him often and he never seems to catch on until it is too late.  Everyone else in the office is relatively normal with each having their own unique personalities.

Why it's funny
When you watch this show, you really feel like you are watching a documentary.  Their is no laugh track or music.  The camera moves around as if it is just a single camera man taping a real life office while they work.  Throughout the episode we see random clips of the workers talking to the camera, just like you would expect in a documentary.  When you see what goes on in this very realistic setting, you can't help but laugh out loud at the antics. 

The workers in this office go out of their way to pull pranks on each other.  We as viewers could care less what their actual job is, because they spend the whole episode pulling pranks or doing something that you would probably never do in your office.  Imagine someone taking all your co-workers belong and having them put into the vending machine.  How can they get them out?  I guess they have to buy them all!  Although I would never pull these types of pranks, I can't help laughing at them and thinking how it really could work!

For a preview of some of the pranks, go to this link: http://youtube.com/results?search_query=%22the+office%22+pranks  If you do not laugh after watching some of those, then stay away from this show because that is all it is about.  If you do laugh, the set your DVR to record the reruns today!  You don't have to watch in order if you don't want to, it's still funny either way.  You have to love the sarcastic characters just trying to have some fun in their boring office jobs.  Check it out and Enjoy!!