Unfinished Business

With such a familiar sales pitch, it’s no wonder Unfinished Business can’t seal the deal.

This raunchy comedy about a business trip from hell is the latest example of big-screen men behaving badly, except that those who enjoy the low-brow antics probably won’t care much for the negotiations between suits, while those who favor the boardroom shenanigans likely will be put off by all the sophomoric tendencies.

That disconnect doesn’t stop this globetrotting farce from Canadian director Ken Scott (Delivery Man) from trying to meet in the middle. It follows Dan (Vince Vaughn), who quits his sales job working for Chuck (Sienna Miller), so he starts a rival firm instead. However, the only colleagues he can round up are Timothy (Tom Wilkinson), who is past retirement age and stuck in a bad marriage, and Mike (Dave Franco), a socially awkward youngster who’s nevertheless eager to learn.

Although it’s never entirely clear exactly what the company does, Dan thinks the ragtag firm can make a breakthrough by simply traveling to Maine for a handshake with a shady CEO (James Marsden), only to realize the contract wasn’t theirs after all, with Chuck trying to beat them to the punch. So their desperation takes them on a whirlwind trip to Germany and back in an overzealous effort to prove themselves and save their jobs.

The screenplay by Steven Conrad (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty) doesn’t disguise its intentions, yet the attempts at poignancy are misjudged between all the oddball confrontations, culture-clash gags, conversations about sexual positions, and drugged-out hallucinations. The film bogs down in its plot about realizing the importance of loyalty and family, complete with a half-hearted message about bullying and progressive parenting that feels somewhat insensitive considering all the mayhem.

There are a few big laughs, but more jokes fall flat than hit the mark. At least the three affable stars have an infectious enthusiasm – it’s debatable whether Wilkinson is just cutting loose or cashing in a little of his dignity – but that chemistry only goes so far when it’s so difficult to find much sympathy for these bumbling losers.

Unfinished Business isn’t exactly a celebration of entrepreneurial spirit or an expose of contemporary corporate America. It would rather crunch numbers in a unisex sauna, except that it runs out of steam.

Rated R, 91 minutes.