Management

Product Description

Jennifer Aniston (Marley & Me, Office Space) and Steve Zahn (Sunshine Cleaning, Saving Silverman) star in this "rare romantic comedy" (Los Angeles Times) that's bursting with originality, humor and sweetness. It's lust at first sight for laid-back motel night manager Mike (Zahn) when Sue (Aniston), an uptight sales rep, checks in. Convinced that Sue is his dream girl, Mike shakes up his slacker life in an outrageous pursuit across the country. But can he steal her away from her hot-tempered boyfriend (Woody Harrelson, No Country for Old Men)? Both Mike and Sue must go on their own twisted journeys to find out if what they really need is each other.

Amazon.com

Tabloid darling Jennifer Aniston's personal life has been the source of endless fascination for those who are dismayed that the rich, famous, and beautiful actress just can't seem to find true love--and in Management, art imitates life, as the character she portrays can't settle on the right guy either, even without the paparazzi dogging her every move. Her Sue Claussen travels the country selling dreadful artwork to motels like the one she checks into in Kingman, Arizona, that's owned by Trish and Jerry (small but winning performances by Margo Martindale and Fred Ward). Son Mike (Steve Zahn), the likable dude who lives in the place and doubles as night manager, is immediately smitten, finagling his way into Sue's room with "complimentary" bottles of wine and champagne. Their talk is small and awkward; Mike isn't exactly Mr. Suave, but when, out of nowhere, he compliments her on her posterior, she inexplicably invites him to touch it. And so begins the relationship between his idealistic, aimless puppy dog and her prim, practical businesswoman. Sue's determined to make something more of herself, even if it means moving to Oregon to hook up with her ex-boyfriend, a former punk rocker who's now a rich but unhinged "yogurt mogul" (Woody Harrelson in the kind of role that's become all too typical for him). Meanwhile, Mike's content to follow her from one coast to the other until she recognizes what's really important in life. Not much of this is credible, and pretty much all of it is completely predictable. But that's hardly the point. Like most romantic comedies, Management relies on its stars to keep us interested, and while Zahn and Aniston's chemistry isn't exactly explosive, writer-director Stephen Belber keeps things simple and unpretentious, even throwing in positive messages about recycling and feeding the homeless without beating us over the head with them. --Sam Graham