Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Demoted Blu-ray Movie Review

Promote this release into your Blu-ray collection.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 29, 2012

It's not Office Space, but it'll do in a pinch, as a double-feature with Mike Judge's masterpiece, or even all on its own. Demoted is the hilarious new workplace Comedy that's the best of its kind since that whacky Texas-based movie about the ups and downs and the rigors and the rewards of life in the cubicle. There's no red stapler and no ideas taken from Superman 3, but there is a chain restaurant, a plethora of laughs, and a whole lot of cinematic flair. Demoted doesn't feel like a rip-off or a wannabe; even if it plays in the narrow workspace genre, the film crafts its own identity and doesn't play like it has anything to prove or another movie to beat, smart considering there's little chance of ever dethroning Peter, Michael, Samir, Milton, and crew. Instead, Demoted merrily offers its own look at the pitfalls of the office, here when a much-maligned, butt-of-every-joke coworker finds himself atop the food chain where he sends his tormentors to the very bottom. Of course, all the usual scenarios follow, but Demoted is nevertheless a charming and oftentimes hilarious little venture that holds its own and warrants repeat viewings.

You guys are in my world now.

Rodney (Michael Vartan, Colombiana) and Mike (Sean Astin, The Lord of the Rings trilogy) are inseparable office buddies whose favorite pastime isn't outselling one another at Treadline Tire, but rather aggravating and humiliating their co-worker Kenny (Ken, sorry) Castro (David Cross, Alvin and the Chipmunks). Kenny's an easy target, and that he manages to further humiliate himself even when the joke's over makes the attacks doubly fun. Rodney and Mike are rude to the office secretaries, too, simply having their way in their own little office bubble world. Their boss doesn't mind, either. After all, Rodney and Mike are two of the better players on the company softball team, and that means they're all three chums who whoop it up together at the topless bars when the sun goes down. After one such outing, the boss does't show up to work when the sun comes up. He's passed away in the night, which means that, inexplicably, Ken is now the head man at Treadline. And he's out for revenge. He could just fire Rodney and Mike, but he has a darker fate for them: they're being demoted, off the sales force and into the secretarial pool. These are tough times, and a bad job is better than no job, so the duo pack their things and move down the hall to secretary row, where they'll have to learn to fit in with the girls and undergo the humiliation that comes with the territory at Treadline. As they acclimate to their new positions, they come to see the workplace from a different angle. New friendships are made, alliances are formed, and Rodney and Mike, with the help of the office secretaries, plot to get back at Ken any way they can.

Demoted is a fairly simple movie, populated by single-dimensional characters, basic motivation, general plot developments, and a transparent arc. A death sentence though that all may be for many films, Demoted instead manages to entertain even through its cliché and unimaginative elements because it gives an honest effort all around, from the witty specifics of the script to the fine lead performances from pretty much all of the primary and secondary characters. Demoted's lack of originality never gets in the way of some good, honest laughs. The movie balances that fine line between excessively vulgar and visually and verbally safe, never going too far though it's certainly unafraid to push the envelope just to where it needs to be to satisfy a broad range of audiences and stay in relatively good taste. The movie is quickly paced and the laughs come regularly. Like all good "office"-themed entertainment ventures, Demoted focuses in on its leads but populates its little world with a good number of characters, all of whom are adequately developed even within the short 90-minute runtime. Nobody in the movie is the next great character, but the simple traits and office allegiances, combined with a whole lot of good performances, are enough for a movie such as this.

Demoted enjoys quite the collection of actors who simply melt into their parts, whether one of the three or four top members of the cast or the secondary players who give greater shape to the film. The background players -- most of the secretaries, Castro's clique which forms after his promotion -- are pretty much the definition of "flat." In fact, late in the movie many are identified by their office nicknames which also pretty much define the entire character, but that's fine. They serve a useful purpose in constructing the greater whole, in creating a broader office dynamic and populating the figurative sides of battle which become aligned as the film moves along. But it's the few primaries who really impress. Sean Astin and Michael Vartan share a natural chemistry. The two really seem as if inseparable buddies; their history together cannot be questioned, their antics are pulled off with the precision of a longtime collaboration, and their turn from boozing, womanizing, mischievous office hooligans to heroes of the working class comes across smoothly and naturally. But it's David Cross who impresses the most. His uncanny knack for capturing the character's essence -- a man who cannot escape humiliation even when the tables have turned and he finds himself with the upper hand by default of position of authority -- cannot be denied. He's the brightest spot in a film with several, all the actors naturals for the parts and completely dedicated to immersing themselves fully into the movie, which is why it's far better than it sounds on paper.

Demoted Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Demoted's Blu-ray debut impresses. The 16mm photography sparkles, and while the image lacks the precision detailing and color vibrancy of slicker, bigger releases, this Blu-ray holds its own and should satisfy purists who demand a transfer that's reflective of the original source. A moderate grain field represents one of the defining factors along the way. A few sporadic pops and speckles harass an otherwise spotless image. General detail is fine, but not breathtakingly impressive. The transfer produces basic facial and clothing textures and yields good stability and crisp definition. However, there are some noticeably soft shots -- even amidst what is a lightly soft feature by nature -- as well as a few that look to be the quality of unconverted and zoomed-in video. Colors are few and somewhat drab; this is the cinema equivalent of the box of crayons that comes with 24 colors rather than the massive box with everything and a sharpener to boot. Blues and reds and outdoor greens are simple yet visually effective. Black levels are adequate and flesh tones offer no cause for concern. This isn't a sparkling, must-see transfer, but it's a good, pleasant image that appears fairly close to original filmmaker intent.

Demoted Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Demoted's Blu-ray release features only one audio option, a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 presentation. The opening title music -- and indeed the music that runs through the entire film -- offers distinct, clear beats that spread evenly and naturally across the front. The track delivers a positive, hefty low end that never rattles about but rather remains fairly tight and strong. However, the surround speakers don't pick up much in the way of musical action, at best offering a cursory support element to the primary front stage. That holds true with ambient effects as well. A light office space din -- worker chatter, ringing phones -- does well to sonically place the action, but never do the surrounds carry much of prominence and rarely does the listener feel immersed into the environment. Other effects, whether light falling rain chapter three or heavier rushing water in a bathroom scene later in the movie, do offer a good, natural presence that's as close to all-in as the track gets. But it does handle that music with ease, and dialogue remains clear, focused, and flowing from the center speaker. This is a solid audio presentation that represents the higher-end norm for a Comedy soundtrack.

Demoted Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Demoted contains no special features.

Demoted Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Demoted cannot be recognized as an original or even smart film, but what it lacks in nuance and novelty it more than makes up for in raw humor and excellent performances. Demoted fits in somewhere between the classic Office Space and the hit-and-miss "Workaholics" within the "office place" mini-genre, a comfortable spot for sure. The movie is a welcome addition to the stable and a fun watch, not a classic in the making but certainly a worthwhile film that should find high value as a re-watchable good time. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release is disappointingly absent of any added content, but the disc features satisfactory video and audio. Recommended.