Men At Work (1990)

30% of critics liked it
(23 reviews)
43% of users liked it
(33,201 ratings)

A pair of garbage workers (Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez) are shocked to find the body of a city councilman in one of their trash cans. With help from a supervisor (Keith David), the duo must solve the case and find the man's killer while hiding the body from the cops. Estevez also directed and… More A pair of garbage workers (Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez) are shocked to find the body of a city councilman in one of their trash cans. With help from a supervisor (Keith David), the duo must solve the case and find the man's killer while hiding the body from the cops. Estevez also directed and provided the screenplay for Men at Work. ~ John Bush, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Emilio Estevez
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 24, 1990 Wide
On DVD: Jun 4, 2002
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
The movie's desire to please is tireless, also engaging. Mr. Estevez's screenplay is not entirely coherent, but it has a number of comically crackpot lines.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Like the jokes, the brothers' rapport seems recycled from childhood. Sheen and Estevez are hardly working.
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
It's just not much of a motion picture, dropping the potential of a unique workplace perspective to deliver static monkey business, streaked with leftover clown make-up from Weekend at Bernie's.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Lame trash men comedy, early Estevez and Sheen.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Despite its ample flaws, Men at Work is never boring and often is a lot of fun; however, it would have benefitted from the pruning of a few of its misfired visual gags,
, Time Out
The grotesque practical jokes perpetrated against two interfering bumblers are genuinely funny, while Estevez and Sheen remain cutely goofy even when indulging themselves in this adolescent idiocy.
Frank Ochieng, TheWorldJournal.com
Banal brotherly project concocted up by real life siblings Sheen and Estevez. An uneven and unfunny ruse under the dour direction of Estevez
, Film4
The Sheen brothers display how useless they are in this, the dumbest of dumb comedies, proof that they'll never be confused with the Marx Brothers.
Kevin A. Ranson, MovieCrypt.com
Golf clap!
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
In fairness to the two actors, who have appeared in much better films, they don't have much to work with here.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Just tell me why?
Michael Clawson, West Valley View
At times fun, at others too smart for it's own good. It's big flaw: the long, drawn-out ending.
Kurt Dahlke, Apollo Guide
Men at Work stinks up the joint worse than the garbage that the title characters haul.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
The garbage man motif is pretty fitting.
Chris Hicks, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Men at Work will be a painful experience even for fans of the stars.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

If you always wanted to see brothers Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez together in a film, watch this movie. It's a story you may have seen before, but it's still fun and exciting and it's got the two of them, so why not. I liked it.
David L

A true guilty pleasure, Men at Work sees Carl (Charlie Sheen) and James (Emilio Estevez) as two no hope surfers/garbage men who pipe dream about opening their own surf shop. Carl has a slightly disturbed habit of spying on his neighbors with binoculars and "seriously aggravating… More
A true guilty pleasure, Men at Work sees Carl (Charlie Sheen) and James (Emilio Estevez) as two no hope surfers/garbage men who pipe dream about opening their own surf shop. Carl has a slightly disturbed habit of spying on his neighbors with binoculars and "seriously aggravating situations without changing the course of history" by occasionally shooting them with a pellet gun. After an evening of beer and Trivial Pursuit, Carl and James witness City Councilman Jack Berger (Darrell Larson) seemingly assaulting his campaign manager Susan Wilkins (Leslie Hope) in her apartment across the street. As she runs out Carl shoots Berger with the pellet gun. He and James miss two men then strangle Berger and leave with his body. The following day they happen across Berger's discarded corpse on their garbage route, and, fearing they may be implicated in the murder, hide the body. Madcap antics ensure as they try to figure out who killed Berger and why. There's lots to like in this silly comedy, from the inept hit men whose car bears the licence plates: HIT MEN, to the recurring joke of the misplaced tape (work it, work it), and the great chemistry between the two leads. But the highlight is Keith David as Louis, Carl and James' boss' brother in law who rides along with them in the garbage truck as an observer (as they are known troublemakers and on probation at work) and becomes mixed up in the movie's ensuing chaos. David is perfect as the unhinged Vietnam veteran, and from the sight gag of him doodling a helicopter firing missiles at innocent families on a boardwalk, to the infamous "another man's fries" line, to the hilarious kidnapping of the pizza boy "he was provokin me!" the character is a constant source of laughs. Leave your brain at the door and enjoy.
Wahida K

Men at Work is one of my Favourite Movies. It has many LOLs moments.
Phil H

An amusing little flick that is only good really cos of the Sheen brothers. They work well of each other and do produce some funny moments. Its very cheesey and predictable, the plot is sooo daft, almost like a cartoon lol but there aren't many flicks out there about trashmen… More
An amusing little flick that is only good really cos of the Sheen brothers. They work well of each other and do produce some funny moments. Its very cheesey and predictable, the plot is sooo daft, almost like a cartoon lol but there aren't many flicks out there about trashmen right? the beginning is the better half of the movie, the Sheen boys fighting against the other rival pair of trashmen is the funniest.
Summer W

I loved this when I was younger, and I remember it fondly even though it's probably crap.
Candy R

Charlie and Emilio find a body while on their garbage collection rounds.
Jason S

Two garbage men get involved in some bad guys sceme. They save the day.
Dean M

Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen (real-life brothers) were trying to emulate Abbott and Costello, they've succeeded only too well.
Michael G

I remember it being really fun, but I know if I see it again it won't be as good as I remember.
James A

The only thing I remember is that there are 2 cops tied together in a boning formation.
Lee K

for some reason unknown, i always watch this when i find it on the tube i think i like the fact that two brothers did a movie together???who knows
Jason R

Kinda of a cult favorite, brothers Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez team up they would go on to pair up I believe two more times (Young Guns, Rated X), but this is their best on-screen roles together. Keith David plays a crazy war vet who helps the trash collecting buddies out when… More
Kinda of a cult favorite, brothers Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez team up they would go on to pair up I believe two more times (Young Guns, Rated X), but this is their best on-screen roles together. Keith David plays a crazy war vet who helps the trash collecting buddies out when they discover a body, good laughs, not bad.
Barry L

Very good