WHEN the hit sitcom, ?Friends,? ended its long and eventful run on the tube, its stars had become very popular, but had a hard time topping the success that the popular show had brought them. In particular, Jennifer Aniston made one movie after another, but most of them stopped short of ending up in the winners? circle. That?s why we?re happy that her latest starrer, ?Management,? is faring better than many of her past efforts to regain her stellar clout.

In her new movie, Aniston is cast as a business executive who?s allowed life and happiness to pass her by. Adrift after the end of an affair to a wealthy but weird beau (Woody Harrelson), Aniston?s character focuses on her work, hoping against hope (and reality) that it will see her through her present rough spot.

At loose ends

Alas, it can?t ? and it doesn?t. She?s still sad and emotionally at loose ends. Lucky for her, a motel manager (Steve Zahn) falls for her like a ton of bricks and doesn?t stop wooing her until he makes her fall for him, too.

Well, sort of. Truth to tell, he really isn?t a prize catch. But, the ace up his sleeve is the fact that he more than desires her, he loves her ? and that imbues him with the unique ability of making her look better in her eyes, as well.

Trouble is, she still cares for her ex-boyfriend ? and, it turns out that he cares for her, too. When Harrelson makes a reappearance in Aniston?s life, she leaves Zahn high and dry ?
until he jumps off a plane and parachutes into Harrelson?s swimming pool!

?Huh? Yes, that?s exactly what he does, in his desperate effort to undo the done deal that Aniston?s affair with her wealthy beau has again become. It goes without saying that, despite the huge advantage that Harrelson enjoys over him, Zahn is eventually able to prove that, while true love doesn?t conquer everything, it can finally melt a confused and lonely woman?s heart of hearts.

Novel ingredient

?Management? works well because Zahn provides the novel ingredient that helps make Aniston?s portrayal fresh again (Harrelson also does well in his comeback to films, by the way).

Zahn is such a wild card that he energizes his and Aniston?s movie with the pleasant prospect of unexpected possibilities. Not all of those prospects are fully actualized, but the film is bemusing enough to make watching it worth viewers? while.

Love story

Even better, the movie develops, not just its leads? characters, but also some supporting players, like Zahn?s parents, whose subplots impinge nicely on the lead couple?s edgy love story.

In expanding its focus, ?Management? adds to its central story?s pertinence and emotive force, and that?s all to the good. Would that we could manage our own (love) affairs with as much empathy and relevance!