Quirky obsession doesn't satisfy in 'Management'

In 'Management,' a romance begins between the characters of Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn after they meet in an Arizona motel.

Stephen Belber's Management, which opens Friday, asks when quirky obsession become creepy stalking, and can a shy guy's romantic quest be enough to sustain interest in a complete film. The answer to both of these is not quite, which is why Management ultimately fails to deliver on the initial promise suggested in its early scenes. There are times when you get some warm and genuinely moving moments, but there aren't enough of them, particularly when there are other long and tedious stretches.

Mike Cranshaw's (Steve Zahn) life changes forever when Sue Claussen (Jennifer Aniston) comes to the Arizona motel where he works alongside his parents. Claussen sells package art to corporations, but has aspirations of something greater. Cranshaw by contrast is just a dreamer — a nice guy who has had no sense of ambition until now. But after he brings Claussen a bottle of wine (courtesy of management), things briefly change. There's even a semblance of an affair, but then Claussen returns home to Maryland.

However, while she thinks what happened didn't mean much, Cranshaw considers it the start of something big. He quits and hits the road, determined to find her.

The journey takes him first to Maryland, then to Seattle, where Claussen has reunited with her old boyfriend (Woody Harrelson). The one-time punk rocker has become a yogurt mogul, and has a well-developed plan of action. That doesn't mean anything to Cranshaw, who keeps trying to change her mind. He finds shelter wherever he can, takes odd jobs, and refuses to accept the truth. Ultimately, she decides to make him face reality, and their confrontation leads to some drastic events, and some surprises in the final section.

Because Zahn skillfully underplays his role, you never stop rooting for him to succeed. Even as his behavior borders on boorish or dumb, he comes across as a good guy who just can't find his right place in life. Aniston likewise is caught between being flustered, amused and angered that he won't just go away. Harrelson, the third member in the triangle, becomes angrier as this continues, but he's also not quite sure whether Aniston truly doesn't have feelings for Zahn. It makes for a curious situation where no one's ever certain what's coming next.

Another problem concerns transitional segments and time frame. It becomes necessary to pad a secondary storyline about aging and dedication to extend the film and provide some additional plot elements for Zahn to explore, most notably the relationship with his parents.

Belber is trying for something that's not slapstick or cute, yet not pat and predictable. He doesn't completely succeed, but the attempt is often enjoyable. I can't really call this a great film, but the segments with Aniston and Zahn almost overcome many of Management's other problems.

Management
Written and directed by: Stephen Belber
Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Steve Zahn, Woody Harrelson, Fred Ward
Rated: R
Time: 94 minutes
Our view: Good interaction between principals but that can't overcome a story light on thematic punch and plausibility.