Review: ‘The Promotion’

John C. Reilly and Seann William Scott star in the new supermarket satire film..”The Promotion”. Usually when a new comedy comes out, there is a marketing blitz and all the trailers show you all the funny scenes from the film. Not so with this one. I think they are using a word of mouth campaign to get people in the theaters to see the Promotion.

The film centers around two assistant managers for Donaldson’s Supermarket, both of them, competing for the same position managing the new store. This starts a series of one-up-manship battles and sneak attacks on each of them to try to sabotage the other’s chance at the Promotion. The film features a great cast of Jenna Fischer, Lili Taylor, Fred Armison Gil Bellows and Rick Gonzalez .One of the funniest characters is called “Teddy Grahams”, a Russian guy that doesn’t speak English and is pissed off with Donaldson’s and takes it out on Doug (Scott) by sneaking up on him and slapping him. Some of the best moments in the film come from the Hispanics stocking staff who do everything from sampling the food and putting it back on the shelves to shaving in the isles of the store. Kinda makes you think before going on a shopping run this weekend.

The Promotion isn’t one of those belly-buster comedies, but is an enjoyable film. The only thing I can gripe about is the pace of the film..for an 80 min movie it seems too long. But as I said before this is a word of mouth “Promotion” so if you are for a satirical look at you local grocer , I’m telling you to get “Promoted” and check-out the “Promotion”