Visioneers (2008)

70% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
56% of users liked it
(2,080 ratings)

First-time feature filmmaker Jared Drake makes his directorial debut with this quirky black comedy set in the near future, and concerning a curious spike in cases of spontaneous human combustion. The Jeffers Corporation is the largest business in the history of humankind, and they got that way… More First-time feature filmmaker Jared Drake makes his directorial debut with this quirky black comedy set in the near future, and concerning a curious spike in cases of spontaneous human combustion. The Jeffers Corporation is the largest business in the history of humankind, and they got that way thanks to their strict philosophy of happiness through mindless productivity. But when people begin literally exploding due to unhappiness, Jeffers Corporation Level Three Visioneer George Washington Winsterhammerman (Zach Galifianakis) begins to fear that his time will come sooner rather than later. George lives a comfortable yet completely uneventful life, and when he starts having dreams in which he's the first President of the United States, his doctor informs him that they could be signs of impending explosion. Later, as the dreams become more frequent and his co-workers continue to detonate, George is prompted to reevaluate his mundane existence. Judy Greer, Missi Pyle, and James LeGros co-star in an existential black comedy featuring music by Tim DeLaughter of the Polyphonic Spree. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: Jared Drake
Written By: Brandon Drake
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 12, 2008 Wide
On DVD: Jul 21, 2009
Studio: Gravitas

Critic Reviews

David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...a seriously oppressive and downright unwatchable piece of work.
Amy Nicholson, Boxoffice Magazine
The production quality is modest yet assured, as is Galifianakis who dampens down his stage presence and lets his great bushy beard be his most dominant and memorable trait.
Luke Y. Thompson, LYTRules.com
This is fairly familiar territory, and it's lacking an edge
Heather Huntington, ReelzChannel.com
A pseudo-absurdist commentary on corporate politics and fatuous American living at their worst.
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com
It's a high-concept comedy, but it's down-to-earth and accessible, even a little touching.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Kase V

After a singeing opening scene and interesting expository, the movie loses it's touch as it begins to hit the 1 hour mark. The third act is a disappointing cluster of plot, emotion, and situation, save for the final 10 minutes. Galifianakis shows above-average chops as the… More
After a singeing opening scene and interesting expository, the movie loses it's touch as it begins to hit the 1 hour mark. The third act is a disappointing cluster of plot, emotion, and situation, save for the final 10 minutes. Galifianakis shows above-average chops as the frontman, a perfect casting choice. The real star, however, is debut director Jared Drake, who shows remarkable talent behind the camera and a certain eye for interesting cinema. Definitely a person to watch for in the future. In the end, you should only watch it if you're a BIG fan of the black comedy genre.
Aaron N

Todd: My doctor says I have to pull the trigger on my gun once an hour or I'll explode. My good buddy Zibbs managed to take the words right out of my mouth. I too thought that this film was like a strange combination of Office Space and Equilibrium. It's a very bleak… More
Todd: My doctor says I have to pull the trigger on my gun once an hour or I'll explode. My good buddy Zibbs managed to take the words right out of my mouth. I too thought that this film was like a strange combination of Office Space and Equilibrium. It's a very bleak comedy, set in a future dystopian society, where your hero is Zach Galifianakis as sad sack George. There are some good elements to this film, but certainly not for anyone looking for a solid 90 minutes of easy laughs and nothing deeper George is a third level employee at the Jeffers Corporation, supervising three or four others. Around the world, people are exploding as the stress of denying feelings takes its toll. The Jeffers' response: mind control. George and his wife are miserable: he's impotent with occasional fits of infantile pique. She's reading a book on happiness, trying everything. His brother, released from prison, starts of freedom-of-expression movement in George's backyard. Plus there's Charisma, a woman from Level Four who sends him paperwork - with smiley faces. This film certainly fits Galifiankis' brand of alternative comedy, taking a very bleak setting and running with it. There are moments of irony and satirical plays on life later on in the film, but for the most part, you are pretty much stuck with George's depressing existence. All that being said, for a small production, this is a well put together film. It's pretty slow and piles on a few too many subplots, but its certainly a different kind of film to watch. Sara: 'Happiness is: being happy.'... What the fuck am I supposed to do with that?
Anthony L

I was honestly looking forward to watching this film. It looked creative and unique. I was so dissapointed to find out that it was a terrible movie. It was boring, it lacked of energy and altogether, was not a funny movie. I have seen some of Zach Galifianakis's other films and… More
I was honestly looking forward to watching this film. It looked creative and unique. I was so dissapointed to find out that it was a terrible movie. It was boring, it lacked of energy and altogether, was not a funny movie. I have seen some of Zach Galifianakis's other films and he was decent but his character in this movie is so lifeless and bland. I wouldn't say the acting was horrid but the plot and the scenario is so weird that you simply cannot just enjoy the film.
Lesley N

In some unspecified near future we'll be working for large global corporations, being spoonfed motivational TV, and if we're not completely satisfied with our beautiful home and our beautiful family,we'll spontaneously explode. Apparently. A satire on western values,… More
In some unspecified near future we'll be working for large global corporations, being spoonfed motivational TV, and if we're not completely satisfied with our beautiful home and our beautiful family,we'll spontaneously explode. Apparently. A satire on western values, and entertainingly dull (which is possibly the point) with some pertinent jabs along the way.
Curt C

[28th Atlantic Film Festival] Jared (director) and Brandon (writer) Drake have crafted together a film with a very simple moral, but have managed to create one of the most fascinating cultures I have ever witnessed in a film. I was blown away; which is fitting, since the film… More
[28th Atlantic Film Festival] Jared (director) and Brandon (writer) Drake have crafted together a film with a very simple moral, but have managed to create one of the most fascinating cultures I have ever witnessed in a film. I was blown away; which is fitting, since the film revolves around George Washington Winsterhammerman (descendant of the original G.W.), who notices that everybody around him has started to explode. The exploding epidemic takes this fantasy world by storm. The keys to avoiding it are being productive, and happy. One way to be happy is to eat butter. And don't forget fried chicken. Fried Chicken is delicious, after all. Unfortunately, George soon succumbs to the first symptom of explosions - dreams. This has quickly become my most quoted film, which is unfortunate since it seems only 7 people on flixster have currently seen it. Quirky, imaginative, with a fantastic message and an even better ending. At any point where you fear you're losing track of the film, a character always seems to pop up and soliloquize their inner turmoil at just the right moment. Very highly recommended, and I sincerely hope this will be the launchpad for the Drake brothers to become bigger players in the film world.