Rama’s SCREEN

This is one of those movies that you can proudly say, “That was pretty good!” I was expecting THE PROMOTION to be as awful and humorless as Sean William Scott’s last failed effort called Mr. Woodcock, but this is nothing like that. THE PROMOTION is a comedy movie that surprisingly… has enough drama to make you connect with the characters. It has physical humor but it doesn’t depend solely on that, it shows what competition can bring out in a person, what compels or motivates a person to be competitive.. all that and more without forgetting to be funny.

Doug (Scott) is an assistant manager at a grocery store chain who can’t seem to catch a break. His girlfriend is a nurse surrounded by successful doctors who make him feel insignificant. Richard (Reilly) is an assistant manager from another chain in Canada. He comes down with his family to have a better life. A new store is going to be built in a new location, and the corporation will need somebody to manage the place. And so they find themselves competing for the coveted promotion

Most other comedies would have two people competing against each other over the most insignificant things, and then you’d see each of them cooking up some plans to get the other person out of the game.
THE PROMOTION has that too but it doesn’t go too ridiculous. There are silly scenes but they’re not overdone.
There’s No over the top, unnecessary, outrageous stuff that would turn you off.
Overall, it is well written, props to writer/director Steve Conrad.

This is actually the first proof that Sean William Scott (American Pie) can actually act.
The world knows John C. Reilly has acting skills, he’s an Oscar nominee (Chicago), but to see Stiffler give a decent performance as an ordinary average man who’s trying to do his best so that his girlfriend and he could have a better life, is actually a refreshing things to see on the big screen.
There’s no one bad guy in this movie, in fact, at the end of it, you’ll sympathize with both competing characters.
They have all the justifiable reason for being competitive, and just like what John C. Reilly’s said in one scene “We’re all just trying to find food out there.”

I like writer/director Steven Conrad’s take on showing what a horrible workplace/work environment could look and feel like.
The movie also shows society’s perception on what seems to be considered to be a respected job vs. well, working in a shopping center or grocery store.
I like the simplicity the movie chooses to use to display the mindset regarding gender, about how the male would feel inadequate when their female partners make more money or would be the ones who put bread on the table.
There’s a sense of pride that comes with a promotion. It’s not just about more money, or more benefits, but it’s a sign that you’re somebody. It’s a sign that you’ve earned the respect of your peers.

It’s a bit sad to think that most people have to prove something just to feel some self-worth. But at the same time, it’s also a sad thing too if you’re just coasting through ordinary life without having any aspiration, dream or higher goals to pursuit.

* Place the cursor on the image below to check my grade for this film