Extract ***

A sort of factory-set bookend to his cubicle-land "Office Space," "Extract" is Mike Judge's latest workplace comedy. While not, I think, destined to be a cult classic like its predecessor, it is nevertheless a well-observed, funny, and engaging look at management vs. labor America.

The owner of the flavorings factory, Joel (a solid, sane Jason Bateman), is faced with a lifeless marriage (played by the always interesting Kristin Wiig), a mutinous work force, and a confidante bartender/friend (Ben Affleck), who has a drug for every crisis. Judge captures both the aridity of contemporary gated-community life and the uninformed myopia of the working class, as well as the larceny that can hide in the hearts of drop-dead gorgeous young women (the, as they say, smoking Mila Kunis).

I especially enjoyed Affleck's turn as Dean the pill-popper, Bateman's long-suffering mister manager everyman, and J.K. Simmons as the plant manager who can't remember the names of his workers. It's a diverting movie that captures a slice of contemporary life not often seen, and for that it's worth your time.

Rated R. 92 minutes. Mike Judge - Director / Writer, John Altschuler - Producer, Michael Rotenberg - Producer, Tim Suhrstedt - Cinematographer, George S. Clinton - Composer, Maher Ahmad - Production Designer, Julia Wong - Editor. Produced by 3 Arts Entertainment. Distributed by Miramax.

Principal actors: Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Ben Affleck, Mila Kunis, J.K. Simmons, David Koechner, Clifton Collins Jr., and T.J. Miller.