Complete A-Z list


Management

6/10

Stars: Jennifer Aniston, Steve Zahn, Woody Harrelson, Fred Ward, Margo Martindale, Mark Boone Jr

Director: Stephen Belber

An attractive actor Steve Zahn may be, but he isn't a leading man - not in romantic comedy, anyway. As feisty sidekick or comic firecracker he's fine, but he just isn't right the heart of this OK romcom.

As Mike, a 30something stuck working at his parents' Arizona motel, he is suddenly smitten, doe-eyed, when businesswoman Sue (Aniston) walks in to book a room for two nights.

Giving her 'free wine' on the first night and 'free champagne' on the second, he somehow convinces her to turn her car around on her way out and return for a bout of mad, passionate love with Mr Z. Sorry, no. As Sue says to Mike later in the film 'Sweet just doesn't cut it.'

Even less plausible is her subsequent defection (after he pursues her all the way to Maryland) to marry ex-boyfriend, ex-punk and yogurt mogul Django (Harrelson). Harrelson can't do much with this underwritten character, and it's left to Aniston and Martindale (as Mike's sickly mother) to supply what emotional tug the film possesses.

David Quinlan

USA 2008. UK Distributor: Metrodome. Colour by deluxe.
93 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 1.

Review date: 23 Sep 2009