The Promotion: Misadventures in Retail

Steve Conrad, the writer of the inspirational Pursuit of Happyness, wrote and directed the 2008 film The Promotion. The film opens on the dull character of Doug Stauber (Seann William Scott) and his wife Jen (Jenna Fischer). They live in a tiny apartment next door to a gay man who plays the banjo during sexual intercourse. For better or worse, those of us who live in apartments often know more about our neighbors' personal lives than we should. Doug sees real hope for his future when his employer Donaldson's plans to open a "plus" store nearby. The new store needs a manager and his manager Scott Fargas (Fred Armisen) consider Doug a "shoe-in" for the position.

The arrival of Richard Welhner (John C. Reilly), a transfer employee from Donaldson's Canadian "sister store," imperils Doug's immediate promotion. Welhner, a self-described Christian, recovering drug addict, and devotee of bargain basement motivational audio tapes plans to apply for the same job. The competition between the two begins when Fargas assigns Doug to the parking lot, and Doug notices Welhner horning in on his territory with the Pepsi representative. While talking to an employee at the deli, Doug spots a joke award given to a deli employee for "cutting the cheese." As Donaldson board members approach, Doug begins removing the sign. He quickly realizes that since he is on the lot and Welhner has responsibility for the deli, he can leave the sign and let Welhner take the blame.

Despite a string of tragedies and misunderstandings that resemble an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Welhner digs his own grave. Doug takes a Yoohoo to the back of the head. He doesn't see who threw it, but it came from a group of black youths who loiter in the parking lot. Doug maces one of the blacks and the police show up. After Doug delivers a speech to reconcile Donaldson's and the black community, Welhner twists Doug's conciliatory words and says something about a few "black apples" ruining the whole bunch. The board personally witnessed the racial gaffe.

Later, after Welhner shakes hands with a man with down's syndrome, he nearly cries as he talks with Doug. He notes that the man had a powdered hand because "retards" rub all the skin off their hands because they "jerk off" all day and can't stop. Sure enough, the board arrives in time to hear Welhner say something about jerking off. Welhner makes his worst mistake when he relapses from recovery, a sure disaster in a field where drug tests are more common than public schools.

Aside from Welhner's gaffes, the funniest moments of the film are the horrors of the retail career. An obese customer treats the store as his own kitchen and medicine cabinet. The board humiliates Doug and force him to apologize to the group of blacks who hang in the parking lot. The youths regularly curse at and disrespect him. The board even makes Doug comp one of the guys a strawberry Charleston Chew to present along with an apology.

The film's cinematography and production values are above average. Conrad keeps the visual attention of the viewer with the composition of the frame. I consider that a significant achievement given the mind-numbingly quotidian nature of the subject matter. Not everyone can make a shopping market or an abandoned lot visually interesting. Retail stores share an obsession of arrangement and composition equal with that of films. Even though stores pay their employees much less, they expect row upon row of neatly stacked and faced merchandise. Retail employees can always take comfort in one thought: at least it's not food service.