Saturday, April 16, 2011

The Incredible Incredibles

The Incredibles is one of my favorite movies.  Perhaps the most adult of any Pixar picture.  There are many scenes in the movie to show this, but I’ll pick one for now.  Bob Parr and his boss.

Bob is frustrated in job, as I think most people are at times.  Not that  time at work is always or usually bad for people, but occasionally it is, more in some jobs than others.

The best illustration.  Bob in his boss’ office, where Bob’s boss has been delivering a lecture to Bob about working for the shareholders, not customers.  Apparently Bob has heard this before.  Bob is distracted by a mugging happening right outside the window, and he starts to leave to do something about it.   This ensues: 

The Incredibles - You're Fired! Snapshot 1 (3-25-2011 3-17 PM)

For an employee the understanding is always there than you work (and provide for your family) at your boss’ pleasure, and the boss calls the tune.  Here that pops into the open in a stark and humiliating way (especially for a superhero!!).

Most bosses don’t assert this in such a blunt way fortunately.  But anyone who works could feel for Bob, and feel what Bob’s feeling.

Bob’s reaction has to be the fantasy of any frustrated subordinate:

Fantasy Response Snapshot 2 (3-25-2011 3-23 PM)

Any or at least most adults could identify with this.  That’s why it is incredible.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Drinking and Business

I drink rarely.  Early in career in the utility industry, I used to worry that might be an issue.  This skit would have been a worst case.  The reality is that drinking at work seems to have disappeared since the days of Mad Men.