John Waters is hospitalised for a short time and misses his own Christmas party as a result

Filmmaker John Waters throws an annual Christmas party in his hometown of Baltimore, which the Baltimore Fishbowl characterises as “a highlight of the holiday season…for those fortunate enough to obtain an invitation.” However, due to a brief hospitalisation, Waters was unable to attend his own party this year. According to the Baltimore Sun, Waters was admitted to the hospital on December 23 due to a kidney stone. Despite the fact that the party is normally kept under wraps, word of Waters’ absence got out.

John Waters is hospitalised for a short time and misses his own Christmas party as a result

In an email, Waters stated, “The party was private, and my health is private.” “I think one of the visitors blabbed,” says the narrator. The majority of them did not. I am perfectly fine, and the entire situation is ludicrous and exaggerated. I was suffering from a kidney stone. It was excruciating. Lots. I went to the hospital and received fantastic care, and the next day I was back at home.” John Waters, the writer and director of legendary films including “Pink Flamingos” and “Hairspray,” just finished an 18-city tour of his one-man show “A John Waters Christmas.” He reportedly spent Christmas Day with other family at the house of a niece, and he also plans to return to “[New York] and then [the] Hamptons for New Year’s Eve supper with friends,” according to reports. “Office Christmas Party” tells the story of how a firm called Zenotek hatched the most significant innovation in internet technology of the new century, despite everything from the marketing campaign to the movie’s title leading you to believe otherwise. As a result, the film has either far too much plot or far too little, because everyone who buys tickets believes they’re about to witness the wildest holiday party since “Die Hard” — and would have been satisfied with the HR director dropping cocaine in the snow machine, T.J. Miller emceeing inappropriate holiday raps, and random employees photocopying their butts.

Despite everything from the marketing campaign to the movie’s title encouraging you to expect otherwise, “Office Christmas Party” chronicles the story of how a company called Zenotek hatched the most significant advance in internet technology of the new century. As a result, the film has either far too much plot or far too little, because everyone who buys tickets thinks they’re about to witness the wildest holiday party since “Die Hard” — and would have been content with the HR director dropping cocaine in the snow machine, T.J. Miller emceeing inappropriate holiday raps, and random employees photocopying their butts. Director Josh Gordon and Will Speck (“Blades of Glory”) do everything they can to spike this punch bowl, bringing back Jason Bateman (whom they directed in “The Switch”) and Jennifer Aniston (whom they directed in “The Switch”) to play the company’s chief technical officer, Josh Parker, and its fun-averse interim CEO, Carol Vanstone, respectively. Josh has recently received his divorce papers, allowing him to pursue Tracey Hughes, a coworker (Olivia Munn). Carol has a grudge against Clay (Miller), her fun-loving but irresponsible brother, and has threatened to cancel Christmas bonuses and close the Chicago branch.

She’s as Grinchy as they come, even pretending to phone Santa when an unwitting child makes her own naughty list. While these four struggle with the film’s unnecessary plot — something involving a long-shot attempt to impress a potential business partner (Courtney B. Vance) by throwing an epic holiday party — Zenotek’s lower-ranking employees find inventive ways to test the limits of the company’s HR code, which is enforced by uptight office spoil-sport Mary (“Saturday Night Live’s” resident Hillary Clinton, Kate McKinnon, whose character is a little too Following his role as Ryan Reynolds’ cab driver in “Deadpool,” Indian-American actor Karan Soni hires an escort to accompany him to the party (Jillian Bell is funny as the insane pimp who presents him with Victoria’s Secret model Abbey Lee for the occasion). Vanessa Bayer, who steals the show as the “Trainwreck” scene-stealer, picks the wrong person to make out with in the office daycare centre, and Rob Corddry plays the world’s most enraged custom service rep.

If you let them loose, this cast has nearly unlimited potential to be outrageous, but the script (which includes contributions from at least six writers, including “Borat” conspirator Dan Mazer and “The Hangover” duo Jon Lucas and Scott Moore) keeps interrupting the fun with unnecessary details about whether the company will be around tomorrow. Random Chicagoans start to crash the party once word gets out to the rest of the city that a party is going on (a perfect opportunity for Fortune Feimster to steal scenes as an over-familiar Uber driver on his first day on the job), and for some reason, they seem to understand the situation better. After more than an hour of slow build-up, there’s a montage in the middle where Gordon and Speck assess the situation, and it’s here, cycling through the mayhem with scenes that recall twisted Bosch or Bruegel paintings — a man dressed as Jesus rides a horse through the crowd, hyper-vigilant security guard Da’Vine Joy Randolph tasers anyone caught trying to boost office equipment — that the film finally delivers on its potential. Then, when Aniston’s character learns that her brother is hosting a party behind her back, she and the storyline collide, ruining the enjoyment.