Parents' Guide to Office Invasion

While the acting is strong and dedicated, the pacing and structure of Office Invasion are a bit off. Well over the first half is a simple and mild office comedy with silly bosses and bored employees. The action, violence, science fiction elements, and aliens primarily appear in the 3rd act, after what feels like a very long introduction to each main character. But beyond knowing each other vaguely from working at the same office, how these coworkers come together as friends isn't explained at all, yet halfway in, they inexplicably come together at a bar, share each other's current life woes, concoct a heist plan over drinks, and leave best friends.

Further, this movie doesn't figure out a decent tone to marry its drama and comedy. Each main character's story is solidly dramatic (one is losing his trust fund, another is about to lose his apartment, and the third needs expensive medicine for his daughter), but for every straightly-played dramatic scene, there are "wacky" and ridiculous comedic bits and gags and characters. One "crazy" person at a "Hospital for the Criminally Insane" demands people pet his stuffed puppy, poops in his own hand, and offers it to people, an Asian security trainer is played for laughs (along with an "Asian" accent and musical accompaniment), and a running gag involving an unhoused person. In addition, this movie represents women characters in sexist ways. There are better sci-fi comedies out there.