- Actors: Michael Caine, Elizabeth McGovern, Peter Riegert, Swoosie Kurtz, Will Patton
- Directors: Jan Egleson
- Language English
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Delta
- VHS Release Date: 9 Sep 2002
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004CL4A
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,876 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Here's where Michael Caine shines, as a corporate exec who gets passed over for the promotion he's so feverishly expecting he'll get in favor of a young Turk--well played by Peter Reigert--who lords it over Caine's character in subtle (and not so subtle) ways. Caine's wife, also well played by Swoosie Kurtz, one of the great unknown American stage and film actresses, is a serious pain in the b*tt to him. So he has two people in his life who are supremely annoying.
What does he do? Well, let's just say that his solution to these two problems ends in the population of the world changing, shall we?
The dialogue in this very smart blackly comic thriller is sharp as a razor; it's a lot of fun to watch Mr. Caine give us his best as a put upon exec who's more than capable of flying into a rage at the drop of a hat and of executing his very sneaky and well thought out plans for revenge. Also on hand is Elizabeth Perkins, an equally intelligent office colleague who attracts Caine in more ways than one, but does not suspect him of any wrongdoing at all. That is, until...
One of the best office comedies around, A Shock to the System is a stinging portrait of greed and selfishness in America--for my money, far better than the somewhat overblown Wall Street. This is a movie that gives you a great evening's entertainment and part of the reason for that may be to secretly exact vengeance upon those corporate bigwigs who've prevented you from getting a job for so long, given this miserable economy (at least here in the States).
Great job. Highly recommended.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Very funny movie,very "dark".Unfortunately so was the video conversion.Characters look like they`re constantly being lit from one side only or from underneath."Light" sections too light,"dark" practically unwatchable.
Seems to be a straight video to dvd copy with no white balance done at all.The sort of quality you`d expect from a dodgy car boot sale.A real shame,because it spoils a very good movie.
Maybe it was just a duff one off,but beware.3 stars ? For the movie itself.........zero for the quality.
Seems to be a straight video to dvd copy with no white balance done at all.The sort of quality you`d expect from a dodgy car boot sale.A real shame,because it spoils a very good movie.
Maybe it was just a duff one off,but beware.3 stars ? For the movie itself.........zero for the quality.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Imagine if you can a middle aged executive, good at his job and expected by everyone to be promoted; but what can such a man do if he's passed over? His wife's already spending the raise and not listening to him. There's nothing quite like being riled to bring out the creativity in a man, and once started he finds that it's actually quite easy (even enjoyable). With strains of "Kind Hearts and Coronets", Michael Caine brings a remarkable presence to this role as the man we should want to be caught and yet don't really. An enjoyable film.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A good film but let down on DVD
I purchased A Shock to the System on DVD
It is a fantastic film and worthy of being included in a DVD collection
However I am only awarding 3 stars because the film on... Read more
It is a fantastic film and worthy of being included in a DVD collection
However I am only awarding 3 stars because the film on... Read more
Published 26 days ago by Mr. S. Holmes
Great little satire
Michael Caine shines in this biting satire about cut-throat corporate executives. Caine is the businessman who has given the best years of his life to his boss and his nagging... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Eric Ian Steele
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