You probably remember Seann William Scott for exactly two film roles: Steve Stifler, in American Pie and “That Guy Across From Ashton” in Dude, Where’s My Car?. His other latest — let’s say, “attempts” — have been a duo of stupid movies, called The Dukes of Hazzardand Mr. Woodcock. But Scott may finally have broken out. His latest comedy, The Promotion, is actually funny, has a competent director and co-star, and gives Scott the perfect adult role to fit his boyish, slightly vacant grin.
Scott is the young newlywed, Doug. John C. Reilly is the middle-aged father, Richard. Doug and Richard are supermarket employees vying for a manager spot at a new branch and they get into hijinks competing for the job, to the distress of the executive board.
With a distinctly human touch, The Promotion transcends its genre: The foibles are amusing but the stakes are high. What begins as a fight over a promotion turns into a battle for each man’s marriage, and very life. Writer/director Steve Conrad, a Northwestern alum (Weinberg ‘91), went here before with his script for The Pursuit of Happyness; here he adds a comedic element without losing any of the heart.
It’s a Chicago indie film to the last frame: clearly small-budget, filled with a D-list supporting cast (although Jason Bateman makes a welcome cameo). A running gag, funny the first two times, becomes overdone. The final resolution, a little too convenient, doesn’t quite deliver on the tension. But there’s plenty to empathize with (Reilly plays a sad-sack like no other), and to laugh at (one employee with particularly repulsive habits is a hoot). Scott’s very best joke is saved for last; like The Promotion, it’ll hit both your funny bone and your heart.
Rating: B
We caught up with Steve Conrad a week before the film’s June 6 release.
NBN: Was The Promotion based on your personal experiences?
Conrad: Sure. It’s the fate of most people to move into a city where you can’t afford any privacy. The hunger to rise above that a little, that was a condition of my 20s and early 30s for sure. Finally, you live like that long enough, you have to laugh about it.
You’re going up against Adam Sandler (You Don’t Mess With the Zohan) and Jack Black (Kung Fu Panda). Will The Promotion compete?
I think everyone’s crossing their fingers and hoping that if people liked it, they’ll share it. It’s a small movie. It doesn’t need to make $100 million.
In real life, who would run a supermarket better? Seann or John?
Oh my God, it’s so doomed either way. John Reilly worked in a supermarket, so I would choose John.
How did studying at Northwestern contribute to your success?
Honestly, the nearest I can pinpoint that is that I got encouragement from one writing teacher who told me that if I bore down on it that I could be a professional writer.
If you could paint the Rock to promote The Promotion, what would you write?
Oh, I would just draw a stick figure with a grocery bag on his head. And I would write, “Have a nice day.” You should go do that for me.
What’s next for you?
I have a movie called The Expanding Mailman.
The Expanding Mailman?
Yeah. I wanted to shoot it at Northwestern. The message I got is that it’s hard in the fall, with school going on there, but we’re gonna try and work something out. The first hour of the movie takes place on a college campus, so it would be the college.
Oh, cool. Would there be extras roles for Northwestern students?
Absolutely.