Visioneers DVD Review

George Washington Winsterhammerman (Zach Galifianakis) lives in a futuristic Big Brother world in Visioneers, released on DVD July 21st by Mayfly/Fireside Films. He works for the Jeffers Corporation, “the best and most profitable corporation in the world” where he aspires to work his way up the levels (managing Level 3 now) and has a beautiful car, home, wife and child.

George’s wife Michelle (Judy Greer) stays home and watches TV shows that sell books with information like “100 ways to help others, because we can’t be happy now” (and she buys the book “10,000 Things To Be Happy About”). Everyone in their society fears personal spontaneous combustion, a result of over-stress, and since literally impotent George shows signs of over-stress, Michelle buys this book because it claims to have solutions (like using lots of butter on your food!).  George also dreams (other people don’t), and his dreams portray him as George Washington (and foreign and ancient land and time fantasies are supposed to be another sign of over-stress, which has become an epidemic). In fact one of his workers, Todd (Chris Coppola) explodes right in the office!

Visioneers is a wry comedy, with workers being given items like Cuddle Crews (large brown stuffed animal bears that talk about berries and other bear things if you press their hands, in order to reduce your stress). But one can’t help but feel sorry for poor isolated and angry George, who is going through a mid-life crisis and holds out some hope for himself through a fellow co-worker he only talks to on the phone, Charisma (Mia Maestro). He is also visited by Mr. Jeffers (D.W. Moffet), the founder of the company, who liked his response in a test where he had to draw a picture of the future, and he drew a tunnel!

Judy Greer as wife Michelle is to be commended for her acting, going from a quiet near-robot looking for answers to her everyday life to a raging rebel who claims that the last time she felt anything was the day she met George in a bar. George is dutifully confused throughout the film but does communicate to us non-verbally, trying process after process that’s supposed to reduce his stress so that he won’t explode. Co-worker Charisma, Mia Maestro, appears very graceful and lovable, like a young doe.

Although not yet rated, Visioneers is definitely not kid-friendly because the humor is adult, acerbic and sophisticated and characters we’ve come to know who suddenly explode might scare the kids to death. Fans of Office and perhaps even Clerks will like Visioneers. I certainly do recommend this excellent film to all who see the ludicrous situation in many of our jobs and lives, and all those who like a fine mix of physical and verbal humor.

MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 94 minutes
Release Date: July 21, 2009

Grade: A

Director: Jared Drake
Starring: Zach Galifianakis, Judy Greer, Mia Maestro, Chris Coppola and D.W. Moffet

DVD Review by Christina of Movie Room Reviews