Movie Review Rewind: Management (2008)

On the latest edition of Movie Review Rewind, Brandon flips the calendar back to 2008 for a look at Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn in Management.

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Management is a romantic comedy, but a small indie movie as well. The real kicker is that it stars Jennifer Aniston. And this rom-com is rated R so that leaves room for cursing. But the movie has heart and passion and it’s about finding a purpose in life. The chemistry between Aniston and Steve Zahn is odd and perfect. A mixture of a little bit of both.

Management is about the crossing of two paths: the path of Mike (Zahn) and the path of Sue (Aniston). Mike works at his parents’ motel in Arizona and Sue sells motel art and finds herself staying at Mike’s parents’ motel. What starts with a bottle of wine one night and a glass of champagne the next turns in to an ass grab, and then sex in the laundry room. This chain of events changes everything.

Mike decides he’s going to surprise Sue at her work in Maryland, but it doesn’t go as planned. She’s not happy and doesn’t have room in her carefully arranged life. Sue wants more in life and wants to change the world one step at at time by recycling and helping the homeless. She has no time for Mike in her life.

And, Mike has no goals or plans for himself. He’s the night manager at his parent’s motel, and lives in a corner room. But Sue opens his eyes and his heart even if it was not intentional. Once Sue goes back to her old boyfriend, Jango (Woody Harrelson), Mike finds something worth fighting for. Or shall I say someone.

Management feels odd at first and I think it’s because of Zahn’s character and his approach to meet Sue. Aniston really toned it down for her role. She seems like a plain Jane, but there is chemistry between the two. Zahn comes across as a sweet guy who is looking for love, but just doesn’t know how. Sue seems too good for him, but seems to find some charm in Mike. Maybe it’s just sympathy. I couldn’t quite tell.

Zahn uses his oddball character to get some laughs and it definitely puts him in some weird situations. He could easily be the stalker type, but Zahn’s charm keeps him from going over the edge. I must say, Zahn goes from oddball to leading man by the end of this movie, and you feel proud of him.

Management is no amazing movie or an extraordinary romantic comedy. However, the story fits well with these two characters, and Zahn and Aniston are a big help. In his directorial debut, Stephen Belber manages to put two complete opposites together while they try to figure out their purpose.

Mike and Sue are trying to find their place in this world, but they just take the long way to get there.

Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.

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