Promotion had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX. While the audience was receptive and welcoming as they almost always are, but I have to say that I found the film a big disappointment. I expected better from Steve Conrad who has written really good films like The Pursuit of Happiness and The Weather Man. The plot was unoriginal. The two main characters were essentially clueless dolts. There were a few good laughs here and there, but the whole exercise simply seemed pointless. The film was rather episodic as these 2 dolts struggled to gain a coveted store manager job. I wouldn't hire either one of them as a janitor, much less a store manager. I suppose it was suppose to be a satirical look at the industry, but it just fell flat for me. The characters seemed right out of Dumb and Dumber. It seemed like a waste of the comic talent of John C. Reilly. For Seann William Scott, it is a small step away from American Pie and Dukes of Hazzard, but it may prove to be a step backwards in his career. Scott's narration of the film in attempt to give it some direction doesn't really work and feels heavy-handed.
From hearing them speak about the film afterward, I think that Conrad and Scott were well-intentioned, but the whole film is a mess and I doubt audiences will find it very entertaining.
From hearing them speak about the film afterward, I think that Conrad and Scott were well-intentioned, but the whole film is a mess and I doubt audiences will find it very entertaining.