Review of Sorry to Bother You

By Dave B.

In an alternate reality Oakland, California, a young man gets a job as a telemarketer. He doesn’t have much success until he learns to use his “white voice”. After that, his fortunes change and he skyrockets up the ranks to become the most accomplished salesperson in the company. His success alienates him from his friends and former coworkers, while putting him face to face with the most heinous conspiracy in human history. 

Sorry to Bother You (2018, currently on Hulu) is…wild. It’s one of the most creative movies that I’ve EVER seen. And if you grew up listening to The Coup like I did, it won’t surprise you that Writer/Director Boots Riley’s film is filled with scathing social observations and subversive elements. Throw in strong performances from the entire cast, and Sorry to Bother You could easily have been one of the best films of 2018.

However…the film’s script, although original, intense, interesting, and engaging, is also jarring. Sorry to Bother You takes a hard turn from satirical and slightly absurdist to satirical and “WTF IS GOING ON???”. That’s not a knock on the 111 minute film as a whole. Personally, I enjoy movies that keep me on my mental and emotional toes. But the change in the films tone and presentation is abrupt, extreme, and definitely not something that everyone will enjoy.

Sorry to Bother You is one of those films that’s extremely easy to recommend (and I certainly recommend it) and equally difficult to rate. There are times when the movie drags a bit and there are a few elements that are unnecessary and make the movie about 15 or 20 minutes longer than I would have preferred. But it’s so creative, so well-acted, and so bizarre, that Sorry to Bother You is a must-watch. I’m not going to guarantee that you’ll enjoy it, but I have no doubt that you’ll finish it thinking that you’ve never seen anything like it in your life. 

Rating: 7.5/10