Stars Sean William Scott (Dukes of Hazzard) and John C. Reilly (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story) play rivals Doug and Richard for a promotion to manager of a new grocery store. I wasn’t sure what to expect considering Sean usually plays up the slapstick and absurdity in his comedy roles, and was pleasantly surprised by the tone of the film and the performances by everyone. This is a dark comedy and low-key to the point that it seemed they were conscious of not going too far.
This is a movie about how far you would go for your family. Do you lie, bend the rules, maybe sabotage a rival? How far is too far, and what do you give up personally in the process? The films starts with Doug, a very nice guy who just wants to get along, being the virtual shoo-in for the promotion until Richard, a Canadian who recently re-located with his wife, comes along and is equally qualified. Its an emotional buildup as Doug and Richard try to out-do each other in order to secure the promotion, and you can tell it pains them both because they would likely be good friends otherwise. As they take steps to sabotage the other, each finds themselves in worse positions, with Doug doing the most damage as everything comes to a head before the final decision. Despite the outcome, all parties walk away with positive experiences and the realization that everyone is just trying to put food on the table.
The supporting cast (Fred Armisen, Jenna Fisher, Gil Bellows, Rick Gonzales) deliver memorable performances and sometimes steal scenes from Scott and Reilly. This low-key dark comedy was definitely worth the time to watch. Recommend.
Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.
