“Vengeance” is such an impressive directorial debut that you don’t mind when B.J. Novak occasionally swings and misses.
In fact, Novak — familiar to legions of fans of “The Office” as the actor who portrayed temp-turned-paper company executive Ryan Howard — generally takes such big swings with this clever, commentary-filled black comedy that you’re amazed he so rarely strikes out.
Written and directed by Novak, “Vengeance” also sees the actor in the lead role of Ben Manalowtiz, a Brooklyn, New York, intellectual who writes for The New Yorker but aspires to be the next great podcast host.
