Dear Reader: Update, Movie Review Intelligence will
continue publishing this website through June (more...)
Search a Movie:
MANAGEMENTMovie Reviews
Romantic comedy about a motel manager who impulsively follows a small-time art dealer across the country after a one-night stand. Cast:Jennifer Aniston, Steve Zahn, Woody Harrelson, Margo Martindale, Tzi MaDirector:Stephen BelberRelease Date:May 15, 2009DVD Release:September 29, 2009From:Samuel GoldwynRating:RLength:1 hr 34 min
Management played to fair reviews. • Moira Macdonald wrote in the Seattle Times, "...you watch 'Management' thinking of the comedy Aniston and Zahn could have made, and wishing you were watching that movie instead." • And Claudia Puig wrote in USA Today, "...a sweetly strange yet uneven comedy... The story lacks focus; its all-over-the-map plot should have been reined in." More Reviews Below...
Leah Rozen, People: POOR(cg) "The film is charmless and meanders self-indulgently for long painful stretches. Aniston, in what is really a supporting role, is at least crisp."(See all of Leah Rozen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 119 words, 05/14/09
Bradley Jacobs, Us Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...slow and not particularly funny, and its odd shifts into broad comedy (Mike goofily parachutes into Jango's backyard pool for a chance to see Sue) left Us dissatisfied."(See all of Bradley Jacobs's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 104 words, 05/14/09
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: VERY GOOD(cg) "The comic touches are revealed gradually, the plot meanders, the leads keep misconnecting... if there's a point to be made, it's that persistence pays off..."(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 399 words, 05/15/09
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "What's nice is to see Zahn playing a guy who's not the dimmest bulb in the chandelier. Watch Aniston play off him with her pert intelligence..."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 510 words, 05/14/09
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Stephen Belber has created a world of low expectations that allows stars Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn to slip into comfortable clothes and play ordinary people..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 756 words, 05/15/09
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: MODERATE(cg) "...padding disguised as a feature-length screenplay... The cast is game... it's too bad the material doesn't light more of a fire around them."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 396 words, 05/15/09
Aaron Hillis, LA Weekly: FAIR "...add some overcooked, middlebrow Indiewood quirk (skydiving into a pool while being shot by a BB gun?) and you've got cinema's purest shade of beige..."(See all of Aaron Hillis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 216 words, 05/14/09
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: EXCELLENT(cg) "There is a sweetness that pervades 'Management' so completely that it makes even this a heartwarming moment: a stranger wanting to touch Jennifer Aniston's butt."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 527 words, 05/15/09
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: MODERATE(cg) "...gives Jennifer Aniston a chance to show that she's a real-live actress... Aniston makes use of the chance, without taking shortcuts or falling back on charm."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 562 words, 05/15/09
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: WEAK(cg) "...a small, underwhelming indie comedy about the cuteness of the long-distance stalker... makes you ponder the line between true love and a restraining order."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 457 words, 05/15/09
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: MODERATE(cg) "...a dark stalker comedy first act, over-the-top courtship second act, oddly spiritual and romantic third act. And no, those elements don't come together..."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 448 words, 05/15/09
Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian: WEAK(cg) "...pretty dreadful stuff. Almost entirely free of comedy and romance, it straddles a line between Hollywood fluff and indie quirk, but it fills the requirements of neither style."(See all of Shawn Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 196 words, 05/15/09
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: MODERATE(cg) "...a waste of everyone's time... It's 'Obsessed' without the quirk or violence or admission that, yes, we know this is cheesy, but we hope you like it anyway."(See all of Connie Ogle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 428 words, 05/15/09
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (4 Reviews)
Aaron Hillis, LA Weekly: FAIR "...add some overcooked, middlebrow Indiewood quirk (skydiving into a pool while being shot by a BB gun?) and you've got cinema's purest shade of beige..."(See all of Aaron Hillis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 216 words, 05/14/09
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: MODERATE(cg) "Playwright Stephen Belber ('Match'), in his directing debut, comes close to the sweet spot. He's not there yet. But he'll be worth watching next time."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 112 words, 05/15/09
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: MODERATE "...sentimental -- and modestly enjoyable... the plot is too sprawling for the structure. That's often the way with debut films: so many notions, so little time."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 410 words, 05/15/09
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Stephen Belber has created a world of low expectations that allows stars Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn to slip into comfortable clothes and play ordinary people..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 756 words, 05/15/09
Peter Brunette, Hollywood Reporter: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Director-writer Stephen Belber manages to pull everything together and to jerk a few tears at the end, when the real lovers are finally united."(See all of Peter Brunette's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 398 words, 09/09/08
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Stephen Belber has created a world of low expectations that allows stars Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn to slip into comfortable clothes and play ordinary people..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 756 words, 05/15/09
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: MODERATE "...sentimental -- and modestly enjoyable... the plot is too sprawling for the structure. That's often the way with debut films: so many notions, so little time."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 410 words, 05/15/09
19.2 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Management's reviews are separated by an average 19.2 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Management (31 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Management's reviews cover 69.2% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 12,052 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 389 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 13.3 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Management's reviews on average broke 13.3 hours before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Management's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Management (31 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
Mobile Web App version 1.2 shows a list of all current movies and review information. You can click through to the cast, director, synopsis, release date and rating on page two, plus individual reviews on page three. The information is updated on a live/real-time basis. You can also search our database of films. Designed for when you're on the move and want the latest info, this app will work on any mobile web browser. From your mobile device -- only from a mobile device -- open our Mobile Web App here...
