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Cast & credits
Doug: Seann William Scott
Richard: John C. Reilly
Jen: Jenna Fischer
Laurie: Lili Taylor
Board exec: Gil Bellows

Dimension Films presents a film written and directed by Steve Conrad.
Running time: 85 minutes.

“A movie that deals with the black apples of modern day urban occupation. “

Steve Conrad, writer of films like Pursuit of Happyness and The Weather Man dons the directorial garb for a film that really surprises you. If you ask me, I’d say that the trailers for The Promotion are deceptive. Why? Because they make it look like a comedy, which it clearly isn’t. It does have a few funny moments. But all in all, it’s about the struggle of the
urban lower middle-class.

Doug is a late-20s, newly married Chicago-based supermarket employee. He’s loyal to his job because he truly loves it and believes that he can make it as Store Manager pretty soon. Doug and his wife, Jen, live in a rented house that they probably had moved into as a couple, before they got married. A gay banjo-playing eavesdropper lives next door and the walls being as thin as cardboard, afford him a good insight into the private endeavours of Doug and his wife. And as if that wasn’t enough, he’s more than willing to share his.

Doug desperately wants to move into a new home. Not just because he’s disturbed by the neighbour, but more importantly because he loves his wife and wants to see her happy.

Richard is a mid-30s Canadian from Quebec who has recently moved to Chicago with his Scottish wife, Laurie. He’s a nice guy, just like most Canadians are. He’s pleasant, willing and a great conversationalist. But unlike Doug, Richard has a dark side. He used to be addicted to alcohol and weed. He also used to be part of a motorcycle gang. But Laurie wouldn’t have it and now he’s as homely as a Persian Longhair.

After moving to Chicago, Richard’s bills are still as high as ever. And if that wasn’t enough, his wife Laurie wants him to take jiving lessons with her. And that doesn’t come cheap.

The supermarket chain that Doug and Richard are working for decide to open a new branch and a position is open for Store Manager. Both Doug and Richard decide that they need this job desperately.

What ensues is a very well-written and directed sequence of events that eventually ends up in a very warm pay-off. Not once during the entire length of this film did I feel any inclination to side either of the characters. Both were right. And both were wrong. And it was natural for both to assume that they were better than the other. That’s how it is in real life.

What’s interesting is how Conrad approaches the characters with their own narratives. Doug has a voiceover narrative that runs us through what he feels about everything while Richard has a pre-ordered self-help tape that gives him uplifting reminders and plays energetic songs that blend in wonderfully to the situations he gets himself into. The other important difference that you’ll easily catch in this film is how hushed and contemplative Conrad’s approach is to his shots. A lot of times, you may stop to wonder: Is this a comedy or a drama?

The answer isn’t simple: It’s a bit of both. But it doesn’t rely on either for the feel-goodness it carries through. And that’s probably why it’s one of the many overlooked films from this year.