The last few years in thus humble examiner’s opinion, have not been kind for Jennifer Aniston, when it comes to movie roles. And I say that as a modest viewer of her work who leans towards I think she could be great in films with the right role. It’s been way too long though since I’ve seen Aniston inhabit a role that was unique, and in the the 2008 film Management, she finally finds a role that she makes her own.
Not to say she is the lead character, she is a lead character, the leading lady, but the real star of the film is the always delightful but somewhat neurotic Steve Zahn. Directed and Written by Stephen Belber, the film follows Zahn as the socially awkward, immature and ‘stuck’ Mike. He lives his days helping his mother and father (Margo Martindale and Fred Ward respectively) run their hotel, the Kingman Inn based in Arizona. What is great about indie movies like this is that Kingman, AZ is a very real place. The view from Kingman, AZ, at least from Mike’s perspective is that Kingman is a town in the middle of the sprawling desert wasteland that is Arizona. For some people, the town at first glance looks like a peaceful dreamy small town, but again, the film makes it feel like a cage. Where it is easy to fall into the cracks. And for Mike, his job of helping his parents from the Kingman Inn is almost that of a cage, and he has become complacent with his cell.
I’m getting noir-ish with my description but that is when ‘enters the dame’. Mike is enchanted with Aniston, or at least, carnally attracted to her, and in particular, her posterior. The film’s impression is that Mike is not completely clueless when it comes to the birds and the bees, but the entire courtship, the concept of talking to women, to woo them, like many men, he is completely daft. Mike’s plan is like that of a bad B movie up on late-night Cinemax, where he brings a bottle of champagne, courtesy of the motel of course (which in itself, is a joke) and Mike comes off more than a wee-bit creepy. The following morning, and awkward scene of Aniston’s character, Sue, is trying to ‘recycle’ the bottle. There is no recycling carts nearby. Mike quickly tries to recover and smooth the situation down, and in an odd instance, something clicks over Sue. Something odd, and quirky is about this guy. When Mike tries the same shtick again the following night, he lets him in on for one reason: if she allows Mike to touch her butt, since he seems enamored with it, he must leave the room. Mike quickly agrees, admitting that despite he probably tried this before, he probably really hasn’t. He’s just that awkward. Mike is quick to follow through on his promise. The following morning, Sue decides something. Despite his creep-factor, the puppy-dog-slack-jaw Mike is an interesting prospect, and hanky-panky in the laundry room commences. When she leaves, things return to normal, or do they? Since her leaving Kingman, AZ, something clicks for Mike. He feels that he has a real connection with this girl who he has no real idea about. Or does he? Despite his stilted conversations, Mike cleverly asked things you would ask on a first date. Things like ‘where you from’ and ‘what do you do’ and ‘are you happy doing it’. Ironically, when Mike has an ephipany a few days later that he deeply cares for this girl, he puts together what little money he has and goes forth into the world, in particular, to Baltimore, Maryland, to win the girl.
Mike meets more resistance; not only is he lacking money for a ride back home, Sue seems more than preturbed. Mike’s willpower though of fighting an uphill battle that is Sue’s constant want for Mike to be out of her proverbal hair is great. Despite everything that Sue throws at Mike, he politely and ever-so-woefully begins working his way to his heart. While the trailers for the film pitch this as a super funny and sexually charged romantic indie comedy, it’s actually quaint, and charming. More than once during the film I was moved on some deeper human level with little things here and there. Mike’s ability to be some sort of self-aware man-child takes your defenses down, and you get a real sense that like him, you’re not sure when he got ‘stranded’ or ‘stuck’ in place, but you want him to break free; To get out of this rutt. And when you learn that maybe Sue might be as well, even more so does the film begin to really work.
For me the film worked also on a visceral level, one I wasn’t expecting, due to the film’s many quiet moments. A scene in a chinese restraunt between Mike and his father, played stoic by Ward, is heartbreaking as it says everything the two men need to say to each other, without directly saying everything that needs to be said; A charming film with solid performances from all involved. Might be too quirky for some, but for those who dig indie films and Steve Zahn, this is a definite ‘must see’. Can be currently seen streaming on Netflix or also bought via DVD.
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