My Netflix instant queue has become an endless parade of movies that I'm going to watch... eventually. I have hundreds of hours worth of entertainment just waiting at my fingertips and yet, every time I decide to watch a movie, I flip through the queue with unending disinterest.
Well, enough is enough. That changes now.
I am embarking on a new mission: to watch every single movie currently in residence on my instant queue.
Target #1: Management (2008) starring Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn.
From the moment I first saw it in Blockbuster, I was curious... but not really to the point of paying the $7 to rent it. After all, there were far better movies that came out that year, which were, in my mind, worth the investment of my time and money. And let's be honest here, the photoshopping on Aniston's face is a little disturbing.
Anyway, when I saw the film available on Netflix, I added it to my instant queue (along with about a million other seemingly average films), but that's where it stayed for, quite literally, years.
Then, prompted by some unknown force - maybe the planets aligned just right, maybe God Himself forced my hand, I don't know - but for some reason tonight was different. This time, as my fingers roboticly clicked the right trigger on my Xbox controller as they have countless times before, I stopped on Management and pressed play.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I'd read the description on the back of the box before, but as with most indie films, you can never really be certain whether your getting a glistening gem or a steaming pile of crap.
In this case, though, I was pleasantly surprised. The story was actually very charming without being overly sugar-coated, as many mainstream romantic comedies tend to be. There were unforeseeable plot twists, as well as a few that really anyone could see coming (i.e. the mother's death). I was happy, though, that the story took me to unexpected places. I honestly didn't know where Mike (Steve Zahn) would end up next and I could never predict whether things were going to work out for him or Sue (Jennifer Aniston). This anticipation was sustained throughout the film, too, right up until the very end.
The characters were endearing and I was very pleased with their realness. I know that Aniston's films have been somewhat hit or miss, but in Management, she really shows her talent as a serious actress. She had a real depth and emotional range, as did Steve Zahn, that has been missing from some of their other movies. Zahn has gained a lot of his fame by playing the goofy comical sidekick, but has rarely been successful in commanding a leading role. In this film, however, he has proven that he can be so much more than just a funny guy. Sure, there were many comical moments in Management, but this film isn't just another comedy. Mike is a complex and interesting character with relate-able needs, wants and concerns, and his relationship with Sue is just as complicated as any other couple in real life (perhaps even more so).
So, in conclusion, I guess the lesson of the day is don't judge a movie by it's cover. And don't be afraid to watch some of these indie movies, either - you just might be surprised!
Stay tuned for more reviews from my instant queue!
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