‘In the Company of Men’ is a movie written and directed by Neil LaBute, based his own play with the same name. It is classified as a black comedy but it is much more. I would call it a study of toxic masculinity and how it manifests itself in the workplace in several forms.
The plot involves two managers on a business trip to one of their company’s branch offices. Both men, Chad (Aaron Eckhart) and Howard(Matt Malloy) must spend six weeks at this office.
Chad is tall, well built and aggressive while Howard by contrast is smaller built and more subdued. Howard has just been dumped by a woman and cannot understand why she left him after leading him on.
Chad seems to sympathize with Howard, and tells him that his own wife has left him. He then suggests a diabolical plan that momentarily shocks Howard. This plan is a way, he claims, to get back at women-kind itself and get retribution for all the times the two of them have been victimized by women.
Chad suggests that they will find a vulnerable woman, in the six weeks of their stay at the new branch office, that both of them will court. This will flatter the woman and raise her self-esteem. At the end of the trip, they will viciously dump her. Chad claims that the two of them will be laughing at this ‘accomplishment ‘for years to come.
Howard is initially shocked, but recovers in no time, to go along with Chad’s plan. This part is very reminiscent of the plot of two movies I have reviewed, Rope and Compulsion. In all these movies, there are two male companions in an unholy alliance. The stronger one makes the diabolical plans and the weaker one simply goes along, trying to fit in the illusion of being tough and uncaring.
The two men soon find their victim, a deaf woman, Christine(Stacy Edwards) who works in the office. As planned, each man attempts to romance this unsuspecting innocent woman. This would lead to disturbing consequences and an end that will lead the viewer stunned and possibly angry.
As mentioned earlier, here one sees the various manifestations of toxic masculinity such as taking advantage of vulnerability, misogyny, a win-at-all-costs attitude and unethical career moves through dubious plans.
This is a disturbing movie but offers a lot of food for thought. It questions the very fabric of how one thinks of how to climb the corporate ladder. The well defined characters and excellent performances from the three leading actors in this movie, makes this a compelling movie. Eckhart, with his high handed demeanor and smug attitude, especially seems to be tailor made for the role of Chad. Stacy Edwards is very convincing as the vulnerable, innocent Christine. Malloy plays the spineless Howard to perfection. This is a movie that can be analyzed endlessly as it has several themes that are relatable for anyone who has worked in a corporate setting.
The ending, itself is worth revisiting. One may be angry and feel that things did not get resolved, but this movie makes no excuses, for the grim reality of the corporate life.
‘Worth the watch”, is my verdict.
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Matt Malloy, Stacy Edwards
Director: Neil LaBute
Bay Area Bloke 