By JON SINGER

Yeah, reader, I'm going to have to ask if you can … dive into this tribute to "Office Space." But, um, before you do, make sure to use the new cover sheet for your T.P.S. reports.

Confused? Stop reading this story right now, get in your car and rent – no, buy – the 1999 Mike Judge comedy "Office Space."

Now that you're back, you've experienced one of the best cult-favorite movies of all-time. "Office Space" overflows with memorable dialogue, dark irony, and characters.

You don't have to have logged years in a cubicle to feel that Ron Livingston's Peter Gibbons represents you. If you've ever had a boss that spent more time and money on vision statements, paperwork, and Hawaiian shirt days than on his employees, or who substituted birthday celebrations for raises, you'll realize the genius of director Mike Judge's masterpiece.

Few fans know, however, that the movie began with an animated short on Comedy Central, following with more that aired on Saturday Night Live. Milton and Lumbergh were the only stars on the shorts; but Judge wisely added many more memorable characters to the full-length, live-action film.

Take Jennifer Aniston's Joanna, for instance. Her waitress job is a parallel to the office dwellers at Peter's Initech. Or Michael Bolton (David Herman), who is the obsessive and anger-hoarding sidekick. He's not strong enough to change jobs, but he'll complain each day. Then there are the more subtle stars, like Chotchkie's waiter Brian's annoying faux-happiness and the receptionist's annoying repetition of "Corporate accounts payable, Nina speaking. Just a moment."

"Office Space" is not slapstick, and has deeper, darker levels of humor and themes. The receptionist's job doesn't even have a point – she doesn't answer or filter any customer questions, she just forwards the calls to other employees. Joanna's boss (played by Judge) allows her to "express herself," yet tells her how to do it. Michael Bolton is so afraid to say the wrong thing during his evaluation, that when asked what is his favorite song by Michael Bolton (the singer Bolton says is "a no-talent ass clown", he responds, "I guess I sort of like them all." And, most frustrating of all, not one person throughout the movie listens to one word Milton says.

There are hilarious absurdities, too. Michael Bolton loves rap, but fears the black peddler passing by his car. Samir (Ajay Naidu) thinks the main trio's embezzling goof-up is due to lack of criminal experience – showing the brainwashing of an office resumé buzzword. Most higher-ups at Initech are named Bill or Bob.

But "Office Space" wouldn't be what it is today without its excellent casting. Lumino's tribute to the classic continues with a peek into the actors' experience on the set and after.