MANAGEMENT — ★★ — Steve Zahn, Jennifer Aniston, Woody Harrelson; rated R (profanity, brief sex, vulgarity, drugs, slurs, violence); Broadway Centre
In real life, what Steve Zahn's character does to the one played by Jennifer Aniston in "Management" would be called stalking.
But in a purely fictional world like the one shown in this murky comedy, that behavior is supposed to be endearing and humorous.
The only thing that prevents the entire thing from becoming an unpleasant mess is Zahn, an often comic character actor who has an endearing goofiness to him and to his performances.
He still isn't enough to salvage the film, but at least his presence ensures that it's not completely unwatchable.
Zahn stars as Mike, a 30-something who's still living with his parents and who's working as night manager at their quaint Arizona hotel.
Mike's not sure what he wants to do with his life.
But he's fallen head over heels for a hotel guest, Sue (Aniston).
She's in town for business (improbably, Sue sells artwork to hotels). And after their brief fling, Mike follows the clueless object of his affections back to Baltimore, where he hopes to rekindle their "romance."
Screenwriter/director Stephen Belber tries to cram a whole notebook's worth of ideas into one movie. In addition to the main story, various subplots touch on serious illness (Margo Martindale co-stars as Mike's mother), estranged family dynamics (Fred Ward plays Mike's no-nonsense father) and unhealthy relationships (Woody Harrelson is Sue's off-kilter ex).
Unfortunately, not much of this is as funny, nor as heartfelt, as it should be. And the story goes in so many directions and Belber changes tone so many times it's hard to know how he wants us to feel about these characters and these situations.
"Management" is rated R and features strong sexual language (profanity, slang and some suggestive sex talk), a brief sex scene and other sexual contact, other off-color references and humor, drug references (marijuana), derogatory language and slurs, and brief violent content (some slapstick, including a parachuting accident and some paintball play, as well as brief fisticuffs). Running time: 94 minutes.
e-mail: jeff@desnews.com