Excellent but underrated film

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

The review below "Extremely Under rated Film" gets close to what this film is about, but I wouldn't give it an 8, or give it a highly recommend. I would say if it's playing on the indie film channel check it out.The film is full of understated and off-beat humor, like when John C. Reilly talks about how hard it is to have a hurt wrist, points to his wrist-brace and says, "This thing weighs 62 grams man!". The humor comes off as being both off-beat funny and leaves you asking the question, "was that the punchline?" It's not brilliant, witty comedy, but it's different. You can tell there's some intelligence taking place in the comedy. So if understated humor is your thing, it's pretty entertaining.Sean William Scott as a straight-laced operator is pretty rough cause you're always expecting him to break out into hijinx and act like a goofball. John C. Reilly is pretty awesome, the tap-shoe bit is pretty funny, but his role leaves you wanting more John C. Reilly. Fred Armisen isn't in the movie as much as the other two, but he definitely carries it.

My first clue that "The Promotion" might have a little more below the surface than the usual Seann William Scott junior gag fest was the trailer...it didn't have too much easy humor and the plot seemed genuinely human, and even sensitive. Then there was the fact it was released by Miramax spin-off Dimension, an imprint more well known for horror movies than anything else. Something was up.After seeing the film, I am pleased to say that lurking under the veneer of a slightly stupid mass-market comedy is a deftly knowing little indie movie waiting to surface.The bad part of course is --- I don't know if many who would like the film will see it. It reminded me a little of "The Good Girl" with Jennifer Anniston. It was well scripted, rather slowly paced, and relied more on the script and storyline for laughs rather than leaning too heavily on the star-power of it's two principles.The scene at the team-building retreat (dead-on if you've ever been to one) is a prime example. Yeah, there are a few pratfalls, but most of the time you're shriveling in your seat feeling horribly for John Reilly.He's always been incredible at cutting to the human core of all his characters and he really shines in this part. You don't feel sorry for him as much as you feel empathy. And that's not the easiest thing to do with this character, who is far from lily white. As for Scott, he is definitely growing into an accomplished character actor and it's refreshing to see him tackle something this gray and still turn in a resonating performance. Some of the reviewers see him as a "wimp"....well, that's a bit too easy. I see him as distinctly human.I'm also surprised that this comes from Steve Conrad, whose prior scripts I've always thought of as a bit heavy on the syrup. Nothing is forced here. Yeah, not much happens...this is a slice of life movie, albeit one with a funny crust.It really is a shame it wasn't marketed a bit differently. It sucks to go into a movie expecting something and getting nothing close to what you expected out of it. Which, fortunately for me this time, wasn't the case.

I went into The Promotion hoping for a nice comedy to pass the evening, seeing as, after all, it was Sean Williams Scott and this John Reilly fella. But don't let yourself be fooled, this is not even near a comedy.The Promotion is a by-the-book drama film disguised as a comedy. The default story about a guy competing for his dream job with a probably more qualified, more experienced, more successfully rival. The story is so boring that even the actors themselves seem bored by it.Not that it's that bad, it's watchable, but in the end, there's nothing to it. Don't expect any laughs, you probably won't find them here.

I saw this movie last night. I expect more from Sean William Scott's comedies. This isn't one of his best. Not a bad movie with a few laughs, but i think i only need to see it once. The storyline is different to any other movie i have seen. The movie almost gets out of first gear, but not quite. Its definitely not as funny as some of his other movies such as American Pie and Welcome to the Jungle. I have been use to hilariously great movies from SWS, i hope this backwards step isn't going to be an ongoing feature of his films. Next on my hit list to see is Balls Out. I am not sure what to expect now. The Promotion is good viewing, but not vital viewing.