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The Promotion

The Promotion is a 2008 American comedy film written and directed by Steven Conrad, focusing on the rivalry between two assistant managers at a Chicago supermarket chain who compete for a single promotion to oversee a new store location.^[1]^[2] The story centers on Doug Stauber (played by Seann William Scott), a long-time employee striving to advance amid personal and professional pressures, and his competitor Richard Wehlner (John C. Reilly), a newcomer whose background adds tension to their escalating conflict.^[2] Supporting roles include Jenna Fischer as Doug's wife, Lili Taylor as Richard's spouse, and Fred Armisen as their eccentric boss, contributing to the film's exploration of workplace ambition, morality, and interpersonal dynamics in a corporate retail environment.^[1] Released in limited theaters on June 6, 2008, the film runs approximately 86 minutes and blends humor with satirical commentary on middle-management struggles, though it received mixed reviews for its pacing and execution.^[2] Critics praised elements like sharp dialogue and relatable themes but noted it fell short of its satirical potential, earning a 54% Tomatometer score based on 76 reviews and a 28% audience score from over 50,000 ratings.^[2] Despite the modest reception, The Promotion highlights Conrad's debut as a feature director, following his screenplay work on films like The Pursuit of Happyness, and features a strong ensemble cast delivering grounded performances in a low-key comedic style.^[1]

Story and Characters

Plot

The Promotion follows Doug Stauber, a 33-year-old assistant manager at a Donaldson’s supermarket in Chicago, who is eager for advancement in his career.^[3] Doug, married to Jen (played by Jenna Fischer), faces mounting pressure as his wife is pregnant, and the couple has put down a non-refundable deposit on a house in the neighborhood where the company plans to open a new store.^[2] His competitor is Richard Wehlner, an assistant manager transferred from a store in Montreal, who is a recovering drug and alcohol addict attending therapy sessions.^[3] Richard, married with a young daughter, grapples with a midlife crisis, financial strains from his past troubles, and a desire to prove his reliability through self-improvement efforts, including listening to motivational tapes.^[4] The central conflict erupts when corporate announces the promotion opportunity to manage the new branch, pitting Doug and Richard against each other in a high-stakes rivalry marked by corporate politics and interpersonal tension.^[5] Doug, initially favored by store manager Scott, encounters ethical dilemmas as he navigates workplace sabotage, such as dealing with local thugs harassing customers in the parking lot and resisting temptations to undermine Richard directly.^[6] Richard, leveraging his experience and charm to secure vendor deals like with Pepsi, responds with subtle aggressions, including faking an injury to file a complaint against Doug and making awkward comments during a community forum where Doug apologizes for a parking lot altercation.^[5] Their competition intensifies at a mandatory company motivational retreat, where absurd exercises like placing paper bags over their heads highlight the dehumanizing aspects of corporate culture, further straining their fragile rapport.^[5] As the rivalry deepens, personal lives intertwine with professional ambitions, underscoring themes of workplace competition and the struggle for work-life balance. Doug's anxiety over providing for his growing family leads him to lie to Jen about the job's security, while Richard's family issues, including tensions with his wife Laurie over his sobriety, fuel his determination to climb the ladder for stability.^[4] Interpersonal dynamics shift when moments of empathy emerge—Doug defends Richard to higher-ups, and Richard shares stories of his wild past, like paying tolls for a motorcycle gang—but underlying resentment persists amid brown-nosing the district supervisor and navigating nepotistic influences from the corporate board.^[5] In the resolution, corporate requires a drug test for the promotion, shattering Richard's chances due to his history of substance abuse, allowing Doug to secure the manager position at the new store.^[3] However, the victory feels bittersweet for Doug, as the ordeal exposes the toll of ambition on personal integrity and relationships, while Richard eventually earns a store manager role at another location, reflecting ongoing corporate churn.^[3]

Cast

The principal cast of The Promotion features Seann William Scott as Doug Stauber, an assistant manager at a Chicago supermarket striving for advancement, and John C. Reilly as Richard Wehlner, the optimistic Canadian colleague vying for the same position.^[2]^[1] Jenna Fischer portrays Jen Stauber, Doug's pragmatic wife and a nurse, while Lili Taylor plays Laurie Wehlner, Richard's supportive spouse.^[1] The leads' performances emphasize a sharp comedic chemistry that underscores the film's rivalry-driven humor, with Scott's exasperated energy complementing Reilly's earnest affability.^[7] Supporting actors include Fred Armisen as Scott Fargas, the eccentric store manager whose quirky oversight influences the promotion race; Rick Gonzalez as Ernesto, a fellow employee entangled in the store's dynamics; Bobby Cannavale as Dr. Timms, Jen's colleague; and Gil Bellows as Mitch, a corporate board member.^[8] Additional roles feature Jason Bateman as the retreat leader and Rick Thomas as the district manager.^[8] The film includes notable cameos, such as Masi Oka as a realtor whose scenes were added after principal photography, prompting a release delay from 2007 to 2008 to enhance the narrative's real estate subplot.^[9] Chris Gardner appears briefly as a community leader, bringing an inspirational touch to a key sequence.^[10] Armisen's deadpan delivery as Fargas stands out for its satirical edge on corporate absurdity, adding layers to the workplace satire unique to the film's tone.^[2]

Production

Development

The screenplay for The Promotion was written by Steven Conrad in the mid-2000s, drawing from observations of corporate workplace rivalries and the personal costs of ambition. Conrad's script appeared on the 2005 Hollywood Black List, a compilation of highly regarded unproduced screenplays circulated among industry executives.^[11] Development progressed with Conrad transitioning to direct the film as his feature directorial debut, following his writing credits on projects like The Pursuit of Happyness. The production sought to balance comedic satire of office politics with dramatic undertones examining moral compromises in career advancement. Financing was secured from Dimension Films, a subsidiary of The Weinstein Company, with executive producers Bob Weinstein and Harvey Weinstein overseeing the project.^[12] Pre-production included key casting decisions, with Seann William Scott and John C. Reilly announced to star as the competing assistant managers Doug Stauber and Richard Wehlner. Script revisions occurred during this phase to refine the narrative's tone and character arcs ahead of principal photography.^[13]

Filming

Principal photography for The Promotion commenced on July 17, 2006, and wrapped on August 28, 2006, taking place entirely on location in Chicago, Illinois, to authentically depict the Midwestern setting central to the story.^[14] Filming utilized a variety of Chicago sites to mirror the characters' everyday lives, including grocery stores representing the corporate supermarket chain, urban neighborhoods such as Hyde Park on S. Greenwood Avenue between 54th and 55th Streets, the hospital at 1801 W. Taylor Street, and suburban homes like the Staubers' residence at 9721 S. Leavitt Street.^[14]^[15] The production operated on a modest $6 million budget, which imposed constraints on resources and scope, contributing to logistical challenges during the shoot.^[16] In 2007, reshoots were conducted in Los Angeles to incorporate additional scenes, including those with Jason Bateman as the camp instructor.^[17] To enhance the film's comedic realism, cinematographer Lawrence Sher employed handheld cameras, creating a dynamic, intimate visual style.^[2] Director Steven Conrad, adapting his own screenplay, encouraged an improvisational approach with the actors to capture natural performances amid the workplace rivalries.^[18]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack for The Promotion combines an original score by composer Alex Wurman with a selection of licensed classic rock tracks, creating a light and whimsical backdrop that complements the film's comedic exploration of workplace rivalry and nostalgia.^[19]^[20] Wurman's score, released by Lakeshore Records in 2008, features 22 cues including "The Donaldson's Experience" (4:02) and "Cheese Poster" (1:13), characterized by bouncy, melodic arrangements that evoke mild melancholy while underscoring humorous character moments without overpowering the dialogue.^[21]^[22] Music supervisor Tracy McKnight curated the licensed songs, all sourced from established catalogs, to heighten tension and humor in rivalry sequences; notable examples include "Fly Like an Eagle" by Steve Miller Band in the opening, "Born to Move" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Maneater" performed by Clair Marlo (written by Sara Allen, Daryl Hall, and John Oates), and "Rise" by Public Image Ltd.^[12]^[23]

Release

Theatrical release

The Promotion had its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas, on March 9, 2008, as part of the Spotlight Premieres section.^[24] Additional festival screenings followed, including at the Newport Beach International Film Festival on May 1, 2008, and the Seattle International Film Festival on May 10, 2008.^[25] The film received a limited theatrical release in the United States on June 6, 2008, distributed by Third Rail Releasing under the Dimension Films banner.^[2] The rollout targeted urban markets such as Chicago and New York, opening in just 6 theaters to build initial buzz before expanding to 81 screens the following week on June 13.^[26] Marketing for the release centered on the film's comedic elements, with trailers spotlighting the workplace rivalry between assistant managers Doug Stauber and Richard Wehlner, played by Seann William Scott and John C. Reilly, respectively.^[27] Posters prominently featured the two leads in humorous, competitive poses amid supermarket settings, emphasizing the story's themes of ambition and absurdity in corporate life. Promotional efforts were modest overall, reflecting the film's independent-scale distribution, with no major tie-ins reported beyond standard advertising. International distribution remained minimal, limited to select releases in countries including Australia on July 17, 2008, and the United Kingdom on August 22, 2008.^[25]

Box office performance

The Promotion opened in limited release on June 6, 2008, earning $30,493 from 6 theaters during its opening weekend of June 6–8.^[28] The film subsequently expanded its theatrical run, reaching a maximum of 81 screens.^[28] Over the course of its distribution, which averaged 3.0 weeks per theater, it accumulated a total domestic gross of $408,709 and a worldwide gross of $457,690, with minimal international earnings of $48,981 from limited foreign releases representing approximately 11% of the total.^[29] Adjusted for ticket price inflation to 2023 dollars, the domestic gross equates to approximately $639,931.^[28] As a low-budget independent production with an estimated budget of $8 million, the film achieved modest commercial results that fell short of recouping its costs, particularly in light of its leads Seann William Scott and John C. Reilly.^[1]

Home media

Following its limited theatrical release in 2008, The Promotion was distributed on home media primarily through DVD formats. The film received a standard DVD release on September 2, 2008, by The Weinstein Company in association with Genius Products.^[28] This edition featured widescreen presentation, Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, and a runtime of 86 minutes.^[30] Special features on the DVD included an audio commentary track by writer-director Steven Conrad and producers Jessika Borsiczky Goyer and Steven A. Jones, six deleted scenes totaling approximately eight minutes, a making-of featurette, outtakes, and promotional webisodes highlighting behind-the-scenes production and comedic elements through cast and crew insights.^[31]^[32]^[33] No official Blu-ray edition of the film has been released, reflecting its status as an independent comedy with limited physical media expansion beyond DVD. Digital availability followed in subsequent years, with the film offered for purchase or rental on platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play, and for free ad-supported streaming on services such as Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel.^[34]^[2]

Reception

Critical reception

The Promotion received mixed reviews upon its 2008 release, with critics appreciating the lead performances while critiquing its tonal inconsistencies. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 54% approval rating based on 76 reviews.^[2] On Metacritic, it scores 51 out of 100, indicating "mixed or average" reviews from 21 critics.^[35] Positive responses highlighted the chemistry between Seann William Scott and John C. Reilly, whose portrayals of rival supermarket assistants created an engaging dynamic that elicited laughs through their awkward camaraderie.^[36] Reviewers praised the film's authentic workplace satire, drawing comparisons to Office Space for its low-key humor and insights into corporate drudgery and occupational frustrations.^[2] Roger Ebert noted the leads' ill-at-ease performances as central to the "human comedy" of everyday employee struggles, though he found the overall execution uneven.^[5] Critics who disliked the film often pointed to its uneven tone, which shifted awkwardly between comedy and pathos without fully committing to either.^[12] Several reviews faulted underdeveloped subplots, such as peripheral character arcs, for diluting the central rivalry and failing to deepen the satire on corporate culture.^[37] Variety described it as a "tonally uncertain look at two borderline losers," arguing that the script's surprises felt weakly resolved.^[12]

Legacy

Since its 2008 release, The Promotion has maintained a modest cultural footprint, primarily appealing to niche audiences interested in indie comedies and workplace satires. The film is occasionally referenced in discussions of corporate rivalry and office humor, appearing in compilations of movies exploring business environments and even academic analyses of workplace bullying portrayals in Hollywood cinema.^[38]^[39] It received no major awards or theatrical revivals, reflecting its limited broader impact. In retrospectives as of 2025, the film's Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score remains stable at 54% based on 76 reviews, with no notable reevaluations or shifts in critical consensus. Its audience score stands at 28%, underscoring persistent mixed reception, though the performances of leads Seann William Scott and John C. Reilly continue to be highlighted for their comedic timing in early-career showcases for both actors.^[2] The availability of The Promotion on multiple streaming platforms, including fuboTV, Prime Video, and free ad-supported services like The Roku Channel, has facilitated minor rediscovery among viewers exploring 2000s comedies. Themes of job insecurity and competitive pressures align conceptually with the economic context of the 2008 recession during which the film was released, though scholarly or popular reevaluations tying it explicitly to that era remain sparse.^[34]^[40]

References

[1]
The Promotion (2008) - IMDb
Rating 5.6/10 (20,166) This film is about two assistant managers of a supermarket fighting for a promotion to become the manager of the new branch. The two assistant managers, Doug ...Full cast & crew · User reviews · Parents guide · 3 of 35
[2]
The Promotion | Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 54% (76) Doug Stauber (Seann William Scott) holds the post of assistant manager at a Chicago supermarket that plans to open an additional store right in his own ...
[3]
The Promotion (2008) - Plot - IMDb
Two assistant managers, Doug and Richard, compete for a promotion. Doug gets the job after Richard fails a drug test, but Richard later becomes a store manager.
[4]
Promotion, The | Reelviews Movie Reviews
Rating 4.0 (1) Jun 6, 2008 · The Promotion is a nice little comedy about what it takes to climb the corporate ladder and the toll such actions take on the psyche of a decent individual.
[5]
How to succeed in supermarketing movie review (2008) - Roger Ebert
Rating 2/4 · Review by Roger EbertJun 5, 2008 · “The Promotion” is a human comedy about two supermarket employees who are always ill at ease. It's their state of being.Missing: summary | Show results with:summary
[6]
The Promotion (2008) - PopMatters
Aug 31, 2008 · Most of The Promotion is taken up with this kind of testicular one-upmanship, Doug digging Richard as he plots to put him down.
[7]
Flicks: 'Zohan' sure to rake in the dough this week
Reilly and Seann William Scott called “The Promotion.” It's a little ... Scott and Reilly may make perfect comedic chemistry. Both work for the same ...
[8]
The Promotion (2008) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
Cast ; Seann William Scott at an event for Movie 43 (2013). Seann William Scott · Doug Stauber ; Chris Conrad · Teddy Grahams ; Rick Gonzalez · Ernesto ; BAFTA New ...
[9]
The Promotion (2008) - Trivia - IMDb
The film was originally scheduled to be released on May 2007, but was pushed back to June 2008 to add new scenes featuring Masi Oka's cameo appearance.
[10]
Chris Gardner - IMDb
He is a producer and actor, known for The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), The Promotion (2008) and Maya Angelou and Still I Rise (2016). He was previously married ...
[11]
The Black List: Words, in Search of a Movie | The Artifice
THE PROMOTION Steven Conrad 2005. THE PROPOSAL Peter Chiarelli 2005. THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS Steve Conrad 2005. THE QUEEN Peter Morgan 2005. THE SASQUATCH GANG<|control11|><|separator|>
[12]
The Promotion - Variety
Mar 9, 2008 · There will be no promotions stemming from "The Promotion," a stillborn would-be comedy about job competition between two questionable guys.Missing: plot spoilers
[13]
2008 SXSW lineup - Variety
Feb 4, 2008 · The Promotion Director/writer: Steven Conrad. Starring: Seann William Scott, John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Lili Taylor. The story of two ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[14]
The Promotion (2008) - Filming & production - IMDb
No readable text found in the HTML.<|control11|><|separator|>
[15]
The Promotion - Filming Locations of Chicago and Los Angeles
The Hospital Where Jen Stauber Works / 1801 W. Taylor Street, Chicago (0:03) The Stauber's Dream House / 9721 S. Leavitt Street, Chicago
[16]
Director of 'The Promotion' deftly balances humor with pathos ...
6/19/2008 (1 decade ago). Published in Movies. But ... In "The Promotion," the directorial debut of the ... budget was low enough ($6 million) for ...
[17]
"The Promotion" Sept. 2 DVD release should help boost the ...
... The Promotion ... Seann William Scott and John C. Reilly play rival ... Robert Lennon's novel “The Mailman.” Jack Black has been attached to star and production ...
[18]
The Promotion: Seann William Scott in a prole battle with John C ...
The Promotion: Seann William Scott in a prole battle with John C. Reilly. By Scott Foundas • June 10, 2008 12:00 am.
[19]
The Promotion [Original Motion Picture Score] ... - AllMusic
The Promotion [Original Motion Picture Score] by Alex Wurman released in 2008. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.
[20]
The Promotion (2008) - Michael D's Region 4
Apr 16, 2009 · The music sounds good consisting of a score by Alex Wurman and classic rock songs. The surround speakers were only really used for some of ...<|separator|>
[21]
https://www.discogs.com/release/11632964-Alex-Wurman-The-Promotion-Original-Motion-Picture-Score
[22]
The Promotion [Original Motion Picture Score] ... - AllMusic
Find release reviews and credits for The Promotion [Original Motion Picture Score] - Alex Wurman on AllMusic - 2008.<|control11|><|separator|>
[23]
The Promotion (2008) - Soundtracks - IMDb
The soundtrack includes 'Maneater' by Clair Marlo, 'Born to Move' by Creedence Clearwater Revival, 'Fly Like an Eagle' by Steve Miller Band, and 'Rise' by ...
[24]
[PDF] Title Di Director Screening Section Premiere Status - SXSW
Spotlight Premieres. Regional Premiere. The Order of Myths. Margaret Brown. Spotlight Premieres. Regional Premiere. The Promotion. Steven Conrad. Spotlight ...
[25]
The Promotion (2008) - Release info - IMDb
United States. March 9, 2008(South by Southwest Film Festival) · United States. May 1, 2008(Newport Beach International Film Festival) · United States. May 10, ...
[26]
The Promotion - Box Office Mojo
Release DateJun 6, 2008 - Jul 17, 2008. MPAAR. Running Time1 hr 26 min. GenresComedy. Widest Release81 theaters. IMDbPro See more details at IMDbPro · Domestic ...
[27]
The Promotion [2008]Theatrical Trailer [HD 480P] RlsTv.Com
Jul 26, 2008 · http://rlstv.com/ Daily movies and Tv Shows / Only the best file hosting! Oscar nominated actor, John C. Reilly and Sean William Scott lend ...
[28]
The Promotion (2008) - Box Office and Financial Information
Domestic Releases: June 6th, 2008 (Limited) by Weinstein Co. Video Release: September 2nd, 2008 by Weinstein Co./Genius, released as Promotion, The.
[29]
The Promotion - Amazon.com
Two junior managers at a Chicago grocery store compete for a promotion, while their wives and co-workers watch. The movie is about real-world dilemmas of ...
[30]
Untitled
Aug 31, 2008 · The DVD contains six DELETED SCENES, which run about 8 minutes. Some of these are extended scenes, and only two are completely new, and ...
[31]
The Promotion (2008/Genius DVD) - Fulvue Drive-In.com
Extras include promotional webisodes, deleted scenes, outtakes, trailer, making of featurette and feature length audio commentary with Conrad and producers ...
[32]
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: New The Promotion Clip - MovieWeb
Sep 2, 2008 · Special Features. - Feature Commentary By Writer/Director Steve Conrad, Producers Jessika Bori Goyer and Steven A. Jones. - Deleted Scenes. - ...
[33]
The Promotion streaming: where to watch online? - JustWatch
Rating 49% (128) Currently you are able to watch "The Promotion" streaming on fuboTV or for free with ads on The Roku Channel, Fandango at Home Free.
[34]
The Promotion Reviews - Metacritic
Rating 51% (21) The Promotion is the story of two mid-level Chicago supermarket employees – Doug and Richard, a dubious new guy from Canada - who compete ruthlessly for a ...
[35]
The Promotion | Reviews - Rotten Tomatoes
Explore critic and audience reviews for The Promotion on Rotten Tomatoes. Uncover scores, opinions, and ratings ... Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 18, ...
[36]
The Promotion critic reviews - Metacritic
There are enough laughs to justify it being labeled as a comedy but a stronger storyline than one normally associates with this kind of film.Missing: 2008 | Show results with:2008
[37]
Corporate world movies | Best and New films – page 2
The Promotion (2008). Trailer. Genre: Comedy. Country: USA. Duration: 86 min ... Plot: workplace, dark humor, office, computer, satire, friendship ...
[38]
A Qualitative Media Analysis of the Depiction of Workplace Bullying ...
The Promotion (2008) R Comedy Two assistant managers of a corporate grocery store vie for a coveted promotion. http://www.imdb.com/title ...<|separator|>
[39]
The Promotion - Where to Watch and Stream - TV Guide
Rating 51% (21) Richard has a deeper resume than Doug, is really nice, has a wife and daughter, and wants the promotion to manager too. How should Doug behave toward Richard - ...