Management   Starring: Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn Metrodome Distribution RRP: £15.99 MTD5486 Certificate: 15 Available 28 September 2009

Sue Clauseen, an attractive arts saleswoman, has recently broken up with her hot-headed ex-punk boyfriend Jango. Whilst on a business trip to Arizona, she finds herself pursued by goofy and awkward Mike Cranshaw, night-manager at his parent's motel. Tirelessly unlucky in love, Mike attempts to seduce Sue. She builds a unique bond with immature but likeable Mike and after a one-night stand he becomes infatuated with his dream-girl and a cross-country pursuit for happiness begins...

Management is a romantic comedy which stars Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn as Sue and Mike, two people that over time come to have a romantic connection - mainly due to Mike's inability to take no for an answer.

While on a business trip, Sue stops at Mike's parent's motel and he takes an instant liking to her. He attempts, rather poorly, to get to know her by knocking on her room door with a complimentary bottle of wine. Not surprisingly he gets nowhere. Months later she again stays at the motel and Steve tries once again - coming out with the sure fire winning line: "You have a nice butt". To get rid of him, Sue lets him touch her butt. Later, out of pure boredom and loneliness she ends up sleeping with him. And so sets in place Mike's obsession for Sue.

I couldn't help feeling that Steve Zahn was miscast in this romantic comedy. The part of Mike would have been played well, back in the '80s, by someone like Michael J Fox. The character calls for an actor who can come across as a little innocent while also possessing sweet and intelligent qualities. Sadly, Zahn gives us a slightly retarded character who appears to have the emotional age of a 13 year-old.

There are also scenes that just feel too out of place here. The most notable is when Mike decides to parachute into Sue's back garden and ends up in the swimming pool. Sue's boyfriend (played, unsurprisingly over the top, by Woody Harrelson) acts very oddly, while Sue asks almost immediately; "Who are you?" in a very forced way that makes it appear she already knows who it is.

Extras include an audio commentary with director Stephen Belber and actor Steve Zahn; Gag Reel & Bloopers (12 min, 40 sec); Deleted Scenes (16 min, 19 sec some of which would have been better left in the movie. These include the scene with the two guys who refuse to pay - which helps to add more of an understanding to Sue's line later in the movie where she promises to stay in "better touch this time"; Jengo's dog demonstration; and the scene with Mike's mum's ashes); and the Theatrical Trailer.

While far from a perfect film, Management is a romantic comedy with a lot of heart - even though I still didn't believe for a second that Aniston's character would fall for Zahn's.

7

Darren Rea