Management

Rated: R for language.
Release Date: 2009-05-15
Starring: Stephen Belber
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.managementfilm.com/

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Talk about getting suckered into vulnerability. Steve Zahn dripped that adjective in his latest performance in the film ‘Management’, also starring Jennifer Aniston. The movie, which has all the makings of an indie film, but it’s really targeted towards a more mainstream audience, is perhaps the best romantic comedy of the year. That’s really not saying much since the genre hasn’t put out a real charmer in a while.

Aniston plays a traveling saleswoman who sells cheap art to small companies in motels. She has a fling with an aimless, underachieving assistant motel manager (Zahn) at one of her stops, and he ends pursuing her all over the U.S.

The most memorable and moving moments of the film are found in the acting of Steve Zahn. His unconditional love towards Aniston was so touching and quirky, that I must’ve choked up almost 5 times. I think the beauty of this project lies in its simplicity and humility. All the characters were honest and sincere, and it’s those elements that added to a wonderfully, charming movie experience. Director and screenwriter Stephen Belber never complicated the dialogue nor the message. What did become a distraction were the extraneous subplots and unnecessary secondary characters that clogged the movie’s storyline (i.e Woody Harrelson who was blatantly miscast).

‘Management’ could have been better, which is a shame, but due to its poor scriptwriting decisions Belber lost a chance to make this film a rhapsody in romance.