‘The Office’ – Review
We’ve had David Brent. We’ve had Michael Scott. But now there’s a new woman in charge in The Office: Australia. Her name’s Hannah Howard and she’s determined to make her office ‘the best place to work’ while keeping her work family together, even if it serves efficiency levels by having them split apart.
Hannah Howard is the managing director of Flinley Craddick. When she gets news that her branch will be shut down to work remotely, she goes into survival mode, making promises she can’t keep in order to keep her “work family” together.
The Office has become a cultural touch point for television viewers with its mockumentary style examining the complete banality of office and work culture now being transferred to more than 16 original productions across the world in countries such as India, Germany, Israel, Poland, Sweden and Saudi Arabia. And now it’s the Aussie’s turn. Audiences can expect plenty of off-beat and deliberately cringe-worthy comedy as they arrive in the suburbs of Sydney and are introduced to self-confessed ‘super boss’ and managerial expert Hannah Howard. And the hi-jinks are just the beginning.
For those who love a bit of Aussie comedy, well, you’ll be in luck because this picture has plenty of humour, and it taps into that distinctive Aussie comedy that audiences have come to know and love. Comedian Felicity Ward intentionally revs up the cringe with her performance as Finley Craddick’s managing director, Hannah Howard. And she’s utterly clueless when it comes to managing an office. Desperate for connection and wanting the affection of those under her, Hannah is annoyingly chirpy, offputtingly incompetent, and always willing to flaunt her managerial authority to those around her. Ward’s background in comedy helps elevate her performance, and I’m sure a fair few ad-libs made it into the show.
The Office: Australia has all of the usual supporting characters, and fans of both the British and American series will recognise their favourites. As Hannah’s self-imposed second-in-command, we’ve got Emma Poor as a receptionist turned ‘efficiency manager’ Lizze Moyle, and she’s a dour-faced drone bent on making Finely Craddick as insufferable to work as possible. Then there’s Steen Raskopoulos and Shari Sebbens, who are sales representatives Nick Fletcher and Greta King, who are the only semblance of sense in the organisation. The cast is finished out by the always dependable Josh Thompson, who gives an about-face turn as Martin Katavake, Head of HR, who plays the ‘straight man’ of the series and who is looking for any way possible to juggle Hannah’s antics.
This series goes for the full gamut with its comedy, and there’s a good dose of comedy from the series Aussieness and Hannah’s mission to ‘keep her work family together’. There’s plenty of amusement thanks to the situational comedy, particularly around the series’ Melbourne Cup-themed issue, and Hannah’s ability to flaunt the rules of the Head Office.
If you’re looking for a light laugh and plenty of Aussie hi-jinks, you’ll get it with The Office, and there’s plenty of refreshing energy with this new series.
The Office (Australia) is streaming now on Prime Video.
Image: Prime Video