MANILA, Philippines?If you want to see how the right casting can make or break a movie, check out ?Management.? Shifting from absurd to honest to sentimental, the film is a slightly disjointed indie take on rom-com, a modest effort that is saved from being forgettable by the textured, note-perfect performances of its two leads, Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn. And, who would?ve thought they?d pair up well together?

Attractive guest

Written and directed by Stephen Belber, the production might have fallen far off the mark if it had different actors. The film, which chronicles the persistent attempts of a slightly aging, underachieving motel night manager to woo an attractive female guest, could very well have turned out to be more creepy than funny. Mike, the night manager, does exhibit stalker behavior, after all?but when it?s Zahn doing the stalking, he reminds you more of an eager puppy trying to find a home than a guy you?d want to lock up.

The film starts off in the premises of a family-owned and operated motel in Kingman, Arizona. Mike, as mentioned, is the night manager, and his folks are in charge during the daylight hours. It?s a lackluster existence for the late thirtysomething guy, who looks like he?s deep in a rut but doesn?t seem to show any desire to get out of it?until, that is, he meets Sue (Aniston).

A sales rep for a firm selling corporate art, Sue has flown in from Maryland, and Mike immediately zeroes in on her. His attempts at seduction are as inept as they can possibly be?he starts off by knocking on her door and offering a complimentary bottle of unpalatable wine. He does it again the next night and then tells her that she has a great butt.

Sue is far from won over, but senses that Mike is harmless enough. In fact, they actually get it on before she goes back east. What she thinks is just a one-time affair turns into something else, however, when Mike suddenly shows up at her office. He crashes at her apartment, follows her when she reunites with her ex (Woody Harrelson) in Washington, writes her haikus, etc.

That a successful, upwardly mobile career gal would want to be with an aimless dude who?s still practically living with his parents stretches credulity, but Aniston?s Sue is kind and generous underneath her sharp, urbane surface, and Zahn?s Mike is too wide-eyed and vulnerable to kick in the tummy with the pointy tip of her stiletto. Aniston, who?s being noticed more for the events in her private life than in her movies these days, shows off her acting chops in this production.

Persona

Sometimes when actors are too famous you tend to think of them as still themselves in the movies they star in. This isn?t the case with Aniston?s portrayal here?a distinct, wholly fleshed out persona, a puzzled woman not entirely satisfied with what she?s doing with her life. It is a fine performance and, coupled with that of Zahn?s, it makes ?Management? more enjoyable than it would have otherwise been.