The Promotion (2008)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Steve Conrad

Writer (WGA):

Steve Conrad (written by)

Release Date:

28 August 2008 (Singapore)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Two assistant managers of a corporate grocery store vie for a coveted promotion.

Plot Keywords:

Throwing Food | Banjo | Wrestling | Sex | Drug Use

Cast

Seann William Scott	...	Doug Stauber
Chris Conrad	...	Teddy Grahams
Rick Gonzalez	...	Ernesto
Adrian Martinez	...	Octavio
Maestro Harrell	...	First Kid in Parking Lot
Kristopher Lofton	...	Second Kid in Parking Lot
Jarreau Brown	...	Third Kid in Parking Lot
Edwin M. Walker	...	Fourth Kid in Parking Lot
Jamaal C. Adams	...	Fifth Kid in Parking Lot
Mario Larraza	...	Edgar
Tory O. Davis	...	Keith
Fred Armisen	...	Scott Fargas
Bobby Cannavale	...	Dr. Timms
Jenna Fischer	...	Jen Stauber
Richard Henzel	...	Motivational Speaker
Brian Gallivan	...	Banjo Player #1
Christian Stolte	...	Banjo Player #2 (voice)
John C. Reilly	...	Richard Wehlner
Lili Taylor	...	Lori Wehlner
Peter Grosz	...	Guy in Windbreker
Joe Farina	...	Kevin - the Pepsi Rep
Gil Bellows	...	Mitch
Denny Anderson	...	Board Member #1
Kevin Patrick Smith	...	Board Member #2
Paul Thomas	...	Board Member #3
Ithamar Enriquez	...	Rogelio
Abby Allen	...	Christine
William Dick	...	Canadian #1
Guy Massey	...	Canadian #2
Rich Tanis	...	Board Member #4
Masi Oka	...	Realtor
Jason Bateman	...	Retreat Leader
Javier Lopez	...	Little Javier
Steve Park	...	David Kim
Anastasia Esper	...	Sylvia
Tony Fitzpatrick	...	Police Officer
Angel Guzman	...	Javier
David Moscow	...	Teddy Graham's Friend
Bruce Jarchow	...	Party Guest
Ernest Perry Jr.	...	Man in Audience (as Ernst Perry Jr.)
Chris Gardner	...	First Community Leader
Shaun Gayle	...	Second Community Leader
Stephanie G. Conti	...	Toll Booth Lady
Joshua Eber	...	Hardy
Nathan Geist	...	Donnie Wahls
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nathan Adloff	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Anthony Albert Jr.	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Michael Armon	...	Grocery Store Patron (uncredited)
Holly Barrett	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Debbi Burns	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Brent Allen Caputo	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Jack Claussen	...	Shopper (uncredited)
Katie Claussen	...	Featured Shopper (uncredited)
Lori Claussen	...	Shopper (uncredited)
Melissa Claussen	...	Shopper (uncredited)
Kelli Clevenger	...	Daycare Worker (uncredited)
Angela Cobb	...	Community Member (uncredited)
Charley Cross	...	Grocery Store Shopper (uncredited)
Kathleen Dagis	...	Doctor / Intern (uncredited)
Vicky Deckard	...	El Passenger (uncredited)
Fred Dial	...	Party Guest / Physician (uncredited)
Matt Dinerstein	...	Grocery Store Shopper (uncredited)
Tony Domino	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
David Charles DuBois	...	Doctor / Intern (uncredited)
Matt Dworzanczyk	...	Drug Addict (uncredited)
Ellen Fliesler	...	Cashier (uncredited)
Andrea Frisby	...	Community Member (uncredited)
Dennis Frymire	...	El Passenger (uncredited)
Jaide Gunther	...	Comical Boy at Party (uncredited)
Krystyl Gunther	...	Partygoer (uncredited)
John R. Haley	...	El Passenger (uncredited)
Steven H. Hansen	...	El Commuter (uncredited)
Bryanna Hartung	...	Grocery Store Shopper (uncredited)
David Hernandez	...	Rafael Velazquez (uncredited)
Safia Jalila	...	Train Passenger (uncredited)
Randall Jones	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Kevin R. Kelly	...	(uncredited)
Sharon Kluge	...	Pedestrian at Acrobatic Scene (uncredited)
Bob Kolbey	...	Supermarket Manager (uncredited)
Tim Krueger	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Michael Kuster	...	Doctor Reid (uncredited)
Joseph Lazicki	...	Joe the Beer Guy (uncredited)
Jamie Louachai	...	El Passenger (uncredited)
Marko Mancini	...	Ricky (uncredited)
Eddie Martinez	...	Sylvia's Husband (uncredited)
Betsy McIntyre	...	Cute Pedestrian (uncredited)
Nikki Taylor Melton	...	Lizzie (uncredited)
Haley Nero	...	Store Patron (uncredited)
Lindsey Nero	...	Store Patron (uncredited)
James Pusztay	...	El Passenger (uncredited)
Phil Ridarelli	...	Man in Therapy (uncredited)
Yve Rojas	...	Business Woman (uncredited)
Janelle Rominski	...	El Passenger / Pedestrian (uncredited)
Mikki Raphael Rosenberg	...	Bus Rider (uncredited)
Ashley Schoenle	...	Grocery Store Shopper (uncredited)
Paris Scott	...	Shopper (uncredited)
Anita Showalter	...	Cashier (uncredited)
Toni-Marie Spera	...	El Passenger (uncredited)
January Stern	...	French Tourist (uncredited)
Tristan Layne Tapscott	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Rahul Thakkar	...	Student (uncredited)
Giota Trakas	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
David Dino Wells Jr.	...	Dodgy Guy (uncredited)
Michael White	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Erik A. Williams	...	Grocery Store Shopper (uncredited)
Joy Yascone	...	Second Nurse (uncredited)

Directed by
Steve Conrad		(as Steven Conrad)

Writing credits (WGA)
Steve Conrad		(written by) (as Steven Conrad)

Produced by
Jessika Borsiczky Goyer	....	producer
Steven A. Jones	....	producer
Christina Varotsis	....	line producer
Bob Weinstein	....	executive producer
Harvey Weinstein	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Alex Wurman

Cinematography by
Lawrence Sher

Film Editing by
Myron I. Kerstein
Tim Streeto

Casting by
Mickie Paskal
Jennifer Rudnicke

Production Design by
Martin Whist

Art Direction by
Doug J. Meerdink

Set Decoration by
Daniel B. Clancy

Costume Design by
Susan Kaufmann

Makeup Department
Aimee Lippert-Bastien	....	assistant makeup artist
Tony Mirante	....	hair department head
Michael Mosher	....	makeup department head: additional photography
Suzi Ostos	....	makeup artist: Sean William Scott
Suzi Ostos	....	makeup department head

Production Management
Robert Bella	....	post-production supervisor
Miles Ferguson	....	post-production supervisor
Ron Cosmo Vecchiarelli	....	production manager: additional photography

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Benjamin T. Brammeier	....	second assistant director
Alisa Fredericks	....	second assistant director: additional photography
Michelle Gonsiorek	....	second second assistant director
Bill Greenfield	....	first assistant director: additional photography (as Billy Greenfield)
Bruce Terris	....	first assistant director
Katey Wheelhouse	....	second assistant director (additional photography)

Art Department
Scott Bauer	....	property master: additional photography
Caity Birmingham	....	art department intern
Frank Coronado	....	storyboard artist
Kristin Hanson	....	art department coordinator
Kyle Holden	....	set dresser
Tuyet van thi Mach	....	art department intern
Mike Piccirillo	....	art department coordinator: re-shoots
Marquee Reno	....	product placement buyer
Derek Scouler	....	set dresser
John J. Slove Jr.	....	construction coordinator
Julie Smith	....	set decorator: Los Angeles
Oscar Thompson	....	lead man
Timothy W. Tiedje	....	property master
Kho Wong	....	art department assistant/buyer
Rob Yale	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Frank Clary	....	assistant supervising sound editor
Gary Day	....	sound recordist: additional photography
Sean England	....	foley recordist
Jim Gaudio	....	cable person
Jason Johnston	....	boom operator
Tom Myers	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brandon Proctor	....	sound re-recording mixer
Clint Smith	....	sound recordist
Scott D. Smith	....	sound mixer
Carlos Sotolongo	....	adr mixer
Daniel Sperry	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby

Special Effects by
Josh Hakian	....	special effects coordinator: reshoots

Visual Effects by
Chris Gelles	....	visual effects executive producer: & Company
David Isyomin	....	visual effects supervisor: & Company
Cristian A. Kong	....	visual effects
Bob Wiatr	....	digital compositor

Stunts
James Fierro	....	utility stunts
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt coordinator
Daniel Maldonado	....	stunts
Natalie M. Meyer	....	stunts
Justin Sundquist	....	stunts
Gary J. Wayton	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Faires Anderson	....	Steadicam operator
Faires Anderson	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Joe Carpita	....	second assistant camera
Jonathan Clark	....	film loader
Jaime Dawkins	....	grip
Julie Donovan	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Sam Emerson	....	still photographer
Charles S. Hodes	....	still photographer
David Irwin	....	gaffer: additional photography
Ahnna Lee	....	camera intern
Joseph M. Lyons	....	set lighting technician
Elizabeth Miller	....	second assistant camera: additional camera
Dan Ming	....	additional first assistant camera
Tim Ryan	....	grip intern
Brian Scotti	....	electrician
Dean M. Simmon	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Stuart Slack	....	grip
Jeff Snyder	....	video assist operator
Karina Teismann	....	electrician
Rick Thomas	....	gaffer
Frank Yario Jr.	....	video playback engineer

Casting Department
Annette D'Ariano	....	extras casting
Matt Miller	....	casting associate
Wendy O'Brien	....	casting: Los Angeles
Vanessa Portillo	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gretchen Gain	....	assistant costume designer
Rachael Ohman	....	set costumer
Gina Panno	....	costume supervisor
Jamie Rush	....	key costume assistant
Daphne Vardakis	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Hannah David	....	assistant editor
Kimberly K. Ferraro	....	post-production coordinator
Perri B. Frank	....	assistant editor
Kate Hickey	....	post-production assistant
Kelley Whitis	....	post-production coordinator
Sharon Zurek	....	post-production services

Music Department
Julianne Freund	....	assistant to Alex Wurman
Bronwen Jones	....	orchestrator
Angela Leus	....	soundtrack coordinator
Ernie Mannix	....	music editor
Tracy McKnight	....	music supervisor
Robert Puff	....	music preparation
Ellen Segal	....	music editor
T. Colby Trane	....	music coordinator

Transportation Department
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car, re-shoots
Thaddeus E. Larkowski	....	transportation coordinator
Richard C. Ryan	....	transportation captain: additional photography

Other crew
Jeremy Alter	....	location manager: additional photography
Jeremy Beiermann	....	assistant production office coordinator
Adam Boor	....	set production assistant
Chad Bryant	....	production assistant
Korey Budd	....	office production assistant: additional photography
Chris-Teena Constas	....	location sets
Matt Dworzanczyk	....	stand-in
Nick Ferrin	....	stand-in
Jennifer Zolten Freed	....	post-production accountant
Thomas J. Glynn	....	assistant to director
Liz Goldsmith	....	location scout
P.J. Haines	....	caterer
Amy Holliday	....	script supervisor
Jim Jaffe	....	product placement
Nicholas Jamison	....	location intern
Jonathan Jansen	....	key assistant location manager
Jonathan Kinnas	....	extras coordinator
Ross L. Kulma	....	first aid medic
Michael Kuster	....	stand-in: John C. Reilly
Joseph Lazicki	....	stand-in: Seann William Scott
Alex Lee	....	production assistant
Jenne Lee	....	set production assistant
Christie Leensvaart	....	stand-in: Jenna Fischer
Yana Collins Lehman	....	post-production accountant
Matthew F. Leonetti Jr.	....	production supervisor
Michael J. Linowes	....	legal counsel
Sean Lynn	....	assistant chef
Sean Lynn	....	caterer
Scott Markus	....	production assistant
John Mason	....	intern set production assistant
Patrick Muldoon	....	location manager
Natasha Parker	....	production assistant
Ian J. Putnam	....	production assistant
Moheen Ramsey	....	production secretary
Stefan Rand	....	set production assistant
Amy Rising	....	assistant to producers
Jess W. Royall	....	office production assistant: additional photography
Jackie Saygan	....	first assistant accountant
Ericka N. Shane	....	payroll accountant
Andy Spellman	....	key set production assistant
James Thomas	....	key production accountant
Margaret A. Thomas	....	production office coordinator
Kat White	....	clearance coordinator
Nicole Willared	....	product placement
Richard Wolgemuth	....	production assistant
Mark N. Woods	....	remote head technician
Andrew Yeager	....	production assistant: additional photography

Thanks
James Dean Robinson	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• Dimension Films

Distributors

• Golden Village Entertainment (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2007) (Romania) (all media)
• Third Rail Releasing (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Weinstein Company, The

Special Effects

• & Company

Other Companies

• American Roadshow Motion Picture And Television Catering  catering
• Chicago Audio Works  production sound
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Trevanna Post  post-production accounting

Also Known As:

Quebec (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language including sexual references, and some drug use.

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

S. Greenwood Avenue between 54th & 55th Streets, Hyde Park, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Dimension Films

Trivia:

Though Donnie Wahls (Nathan Geist) is referred to as a bit too "junior" in the film, in actuality Geist had to pluck gray hairs before each day of filming during production.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Richard Welhner is from Québec, and his car has Québec plates, but vehicles from this province only have license plates on the rear of the vehicle, not on the front.

Quotes:

Richard: [to Donnie Wahls] Hey, good luck... because you're gonna' need it.

A weak movie.

I expected a bit more from this movie, if only because of Steve Conrad's involvement as well as two decent leads for that type of movie. Unfortunately, Conrad, who is usually a good writer, really delivered his weakest story and lines here. Perhaps the double duty as writer and director didn't help.

Seann William Scott will never be mistaken for an Oscar performing actor but he usually has energy and a charisma that is very evident on the screen. Here, he really seems uninspired. There seems to be an attempt to pull a Jim Carrey or Will Ferrell with a performance that would be partly funny, partly tragic. Unfortunately, he fails on both fronts. John C Reilly, who is both a tremendous character actor and a great comedy guy is the most disappointing aspect of the movie. He utterly fails at making this character believable in any way and, at times, it seems he is reciting lines at a private rehearsal. Really, really bad. The actresses playing the wives of our main characters are equally uninteresting and unconvincing. Special mention goes to Lili Taylor in another awful role. Her worse performance ever and would have been worthy of a Razzie award if the movie was higher profile and her role more prominent.

There's still a nice basic plot, some moments are funny enough. The motivational tapes of Richard Welhner make for a nice running gag, until it becomes overused. By the end of the movie, we're just glad when Reilly throws that away on the sidewalk. The last arc of the film is even weaker than the rest, with a botched resolution. It really could have been a new kind of Office Space but unfortunately, those throwing that comparison are absolutely mistaken and need some more perspective. There simply aren't any classic elements in The Promotion, while Office Space is a top 10 comedy of all time. Quite a difference between the two, really.

Perhaps a director working with Conrad would have helped keep a sense of direction. A recast of the main characters (or much better actor direction) was also needed. The movie is a decent way to kill time but doesn't offer anything beyond that.