Slackers

ZERO MOTIVATION (A) - One of the organically funniest movies in recent years, this millennial military farce follows a group of female administrative aides in the Israeli army as they find creative ways to avoid work.

The assured debut feature by 37-year-old Talya Lavie has both snap and heart, with a lively cast of relatively rookie actress sculpting memorable characters. It plays like a cross between "MASH" and "The Office."

Zohar (a Groucho-browed Dana Igvy) is best pals with Daffi (Nelly Tagar, with an Ellie Kemper bubbliness), until the grumpy Zohar finds out that Daffi is working angles to get transferred to Tel Aviv (where glorious malls beckon). That tension drives the film's narrative, making this a touching buddy film, to boot.

Zohar is in perpetual recline in her office chair as she hones her Minesweeper skills to office-record levels. She is mocked by the others -- especially by the salty Russian, Irena (Tamara Klingon) -- because she is a dorky virgin. Zohar's desperate attempt to lose her virginity sets up a scene with an assaultive soldier that perfectly encapsulates the movie's mix of humor, sweetness and psychodrama.

Early on, tragedy befalls a newcomer to the group (also involving one of the interchangeable soldiers), and Lavie occasionally reminds us that a war is going on and that the squabbles in the hapless administrative office are petty compared to those who are giving their lives for their country. The running joke is that Admin really doesn't do anything, with Lavie bending the absurdity like Beckett.Another gag involves the coveted office staple gun -- a nod both to "Office Space" and Chekhov.

Igvy is a comic natural as a slothful brooder, carrying the movie like Bill Murray in "Stripes." Daffi (the Harold Ramis foil) can drag out her main task -- shredding documents -- to last a whole shift. Tagar's comic timing is precise in scenes where she teaches another to shred or lamely tries to take blame for the boss. That boss, Rama (Shani Klein), is a hybrid of Margaret Dumont and Hot Lips Houlihan. She's the Col. Hall to Zohar's Bilko. Like "MASH," "Zero Motivation" mines a war-time support staff for deadpan laughs.

Lavie doesn't forget that these conniving characters have feelings and desires, and that this is a classic buddy film. She also has a confident touch behind the camera. She effortlessly drops in subtle Wes Anderson flourishes and perfectly timed sight gags, while her keen eye captures both the dignity and absurdity of mandatory military duty.

As soon as the credits roll, you'll want to go back to the beginning and enjoy it again. Technically a late December 2014 release in New York, this is one of the best films of the year.