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If you've ever worked in a large office, for a law firm, or even as a temp, you'll definitely want to check out Haiku Tunnel, a new film based on Josh Kornbluth's popular one-man play. It's better than Office Space when it comes to milking the cruel banality of office work for comedy, but I'm not sure that people unfamiliar with the concept of cubicles and printer jams will really get it. Those folks ought to try, though, because it's a very funny film.
Kornbluth, who looks like a balding cross between Horatio Sanz and Jack Black, stars as himself, a native New Yorker living in the "proletarian" area of San Francisco. He's employed by a temp agency called Uniforce and prides himself on his ability to arrive at work on time and get the job done quickly. Josh loves being a temp, as he seems to have a commitment problem, having just dumped a beautiful girlfriend for being too perfect.
Tunnel takes place over just one week, which begins with Josh being assigned to a law firm called Schuyler & Mitchell (or S&M) to provide secretarial work for an attorney who may actually be the Prince of Darkness (Warren Keith), though he's nowhere as scary as Kevin Spacey in Swimming With Sharks. Shunned by his co-workers because he's just a temp, Josh is given a cassette containing the dictation for 17 very important letters that must be sent immediately. But he's constantly sidetracked by a myriad of things, including a very funny office orientation (conducted by Harry Shearer), several attempts to write a novel and an enticing offer to become "perm."
Because S&M agrees to cover the cost of his psychiatric visits, Josh eventually caves in and gives up his beloved status as a temporary employee, which earns the attention of the peculiar co-workers who had previously ignored him. Mindy (Amy Resnick), Clifford (Brian Thorstenson) and DaVonne (June Lomena) will each remind you of at least one wacko you've been forced to work with at some point in your employment endeavors.
Though it's oddly structured (there are flashbacks within flashbacks) and things seem to fall apart in the third act, Tunnel is still a cute, charming little film that will delight a demographic that desperately needs more humor in their lives. It's obvious Kornbluth has extensive experience in temporary office jobs, but according to the press notes, so does most of the film's other acting talent (some still temped during filming). Plus, how can you possibly dislike a film that plays The Pixies' "Debaser" over the opening credits?
1:30 - R for language and some sexuality
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