The Promotion

Directed by Steven Conrad
Written by Steven Conrad
Starring: Sean William Scott, John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Lili Taylor
Release Year: 2008
IMDB rating: 6.0

Despite this is supposed to be a comedy, I felt like I was watching a drama instead of comedy. More importantly, I think a lack of support from the music, the movie felt empty. What were intended to be funny turned out sour in the end.

The cast was promising, though. It had John C. Reilly, which actually done great playing a person with a problem with drugs in the past and also with his temper. Sean William Scott was also good as a person who desperately tried to buy his wife a house and with it, gambled every money he got by trying to get promoted.

Both got an equal amount of pressure, I’d say, but despite putting a neutral perspective, the movie chose to be taking side with Doug Stauber rather than Richard Welhner. I could not help but feel that Richard was somewhat (be it intentionally or unintentionally) appointed to be the ‘bad’ guy. The story went that the competing men would do what they can to get the promotion. Of course, being pushed to the ‘dark’ side, Richard resorted to some foul tricks to win the competition. In the end, somebody gotta win and one gotta lose it. But the feel at the end of the movie was rather empty. Perhaps lacks of music to support the plot? Or perhaps a too biased plot? Or lacked of top dialogues? Or maybe all of them were the culprits? I prefer to agree the latter as the causes.

Somewhat a disappointing movie, the plus was only its quality acting, although being too focused on Doug and Richard, the rest of the cast was poorly exploited and this was a waste of potential. Yet, acting alone cannot save the whole movie. As the final vote, I give this one a 5.0. Not funny and empty.