OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY

Remember when 'The Hangover' came out and we all laughed and loved it, not-so-quietly wishing they'd make a film about what actually happened that night and not just the aftermath? The thing is, even the filmmakers knew that was a bad idea, which is why they just remade the first film two more times rather than exploring new territory. Well, 'Office Christmas Party' is that unmade movie.

The stakes are high - Clay (T.J. Miller, 'Deadpool') and Josh (Jason Bateman, 'Horrible Bosses') have 24 hours to save their company or else Clay's evil sister and CEO Carol (Jennifer Aniston, 'Horrible Bosses') is shutting them down. In order to land big fish client Walter Davis (Courtney B. Vance, 'The People v O.J. Simpson') who can save them all, Clay and Josh along with Tracey (Olivia Munn, 'The Newsroom') decide to throw the Christmas party to end all Christmas parties, showing Walter a good time and the family they've created among employees. But when a prostitute, a pimp with a gun, a snow maker blasting cocaine, live reindeer, free-flowing alcohol, sexual tension and a CEO with a vendetta enter the mix, it's the makings of a night they'll never forget - or possibly never remember, depending on how you look at it.

'Office Christmas Party' is not funny. Despite assembling a top-notch comedic cast including a couple SNLers, it's just not there. The concept, chemistry and banter is cute but when people mistake physical stunts, nudity and disasters for comedy, we have a big problem.

No one is stretching their acting chops here. Aniston has once again taken on the bitch role in another attempt to be seen as anyone other than Rachel Green. Jason Bateman is the loveable doormat. Miller is the fun loudmouth and Munn, the sexy dominate personality. Basically we've seen it all before, along with about 90% of the gags attempted here.

Directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck gave us the smash hit and very quotable 'Blades of Glory' back in 2007, and have done everything in their power to prove that its success was in spite of them ever since. The three writers (yes, apparently it took three writers and three other people to come up with the story) here are all a mixed bag of credits and tastes, resulting in this mismatch of elements as the movie stumbles through budding love stories, sibling rivalry, drunken office faux pas and cringeworthy physical catastrophes.

It's only the beginning of the Christmas season folks, and if this is any indication of what's to come, it's going to be a sad one indeed.