Management - A Movie Review

Find a way out of what you’re stuck in.

Management is a 2008 film. When a traveling art saleswoman stays at his family’s hotel, a flaky motel manager falls for her. Mike refuses to leave Sue alone, even following her home. As they get to know one another, both realize they’re at dead ends in their lives.

Do not base your opinion of Management on 1-minute of the trailer or anybody else’s reviews. Management initially presents itself as a quirky stalker story, but surprisingly, the film is an exploration of life and human transformation.

Steve Zahn and Jennifer Aniston made an excellent duo. They looked like they had a fun time together. The characters are written well, especially with depth. The relationship between Mike and Sue grows on you throughout the film, the less stalkerish it becomes. Most importantly, they’re relatable with how they’re attempting to find their bearings.

I am a huge fan of Zahn. He is funny and he’s also a talented dramatic actor. I was iffy about Mike in the beginning with his stalkerish behavior. It turns out, this is a story about Mike growing up and finding a way out from the life he’s stuck in.

In the past, I have had mixed opinions about Jennifer Aniston in most of her media. I really liked her performance in Management. She has a subtle approach to playing Sue. Aniston also has a knack for comedic timing. Sue is unsure of herself and her direction. She is curious about Mike the more he asks about her style, personality, and looks.

The supporting cast includes Woody Harrelson, Margo Martindale, Fred Ward, and James Hiroyuki Liao. Each of these actors has been in a plethora of films, most starting in small roles. It just goes to show that small roles are valuable. They lead to new opportunities.

This is the second time I’ve seen Harrelson in a punk role. I did not recognize him. He needs to do more comedies. Martindale and Ward are good character actors themselves. As for Liao, you need to watch him in the third season of Barry as the character Albert.

Stephen Belter did a good job in his direction. Sometimes the story or characters are absurd, but we need more movies like that. Management is a quirky story. I had no idea what this film was going to turn into. The first half, as the trailer displayed, revolves around Mike and his seemingly stalkerish pursuit of Sue.

The second half lags with Sue’s relationship with Jango. These two segments don’t connect well, feeling like a different film. Events could have wrapped up sooner for them. The ending is predictable with how the story will wrap things up.

Management is about a plethora of relatable themes centering on relationships and coming-of-age for adults. The film becomes an exploration of self-discovery, the pursuit of dreams, and life’s unexpected twists.

Managing your life is a big task. When I was a teenager, I thought people had their lives finalized by their twenties. In actuality, we’re still growing. Life is odd. What are we avoiding? Think about that after watching this movie.

Take as much time as you need to understand your direction. This is a film about relationships and finding you. Sometimes in life, you must move on from things that don’t present value. Most importantly, understand that change is possible - for anybody. Keep breathing.

I enjoyed Management more than I thought I would. Thankfully, it makes a valid point to avoid stalking people. Check out Management streaming on Tubi. It’s something different.