I saw the movie 'Management' the other night, starring Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn. If you have any intention to see this movie, then you should stop reading this blog post right now, as I'm going to walk you through the movie and spoil the ending for you.
Mike (played by Steve Zahn) is a socially stunted, chain smoking, overgrown kid with no direction in his life. He works the night shift at a hotel owned by his parents and lives in a corner hotel room. Sue (played by Jennifer Aniston) is an uptight, anal retentive woman who sells corporate art and tries to make the world a better place by recycling and passing out Burger King coupons to homeless people. Mike and Sue's paths cross when Sue's business trip takes her to Arizona, where she stays at the hotel where Mike is employed.
Mike awkwardly and painfully tries to hit on Sue by bringing her complimentary bottles of bad wine. On the night of his second attempt, Sue allows him to touch her ass for what seemed like a prolonged and awkward length of time. Apparently, this is a consolation prize. The next day, Sue checks out of the hotel, but she doesn't leave without first having a quickie in the laundry room with Mike.
Mike then thinks that he is in love with Sue. Here's the basic story line: Mike buys a one way ticket to Maryland to woo Sue. This doesn't work, so he returns home. Sue later visits the hotel, and she and Mike have a fling and she meets his dying mother. Then Mike finds out that Sue has gone back to her boyfriend to live in Washington. Of course, Mike then goes to Washington to find Sue and literally parachutes into her swimming pool. Sue tells Mike that they can't be together because she is pregnant, and she needs someone who can provide for her, and apparently her ex-punk, yogurt entrepreneur douchebag boyfriend is just the guy who can do this.
Obviously, I did not like this movie. From a feminist perspective, it was absolutely awful. So, Mike can't take no for an answer and then he basically stalks Sue. And, apparently, this is supposed to be all sweet and romantic. Mike eventually grows on Sue and she starts to like him back, giving viewers the idea that stalking is okay and that love is possible if you are annoying, persistent, and lack respect for a woman's personal space. It completely diminishes the seriousness of stalking, and sends the message that women enjoy this voyeuristic and intrusive behavior. Oh, and if men try hard enough, women will give in and let you touch their ass- or more.
Next, this movie upholds the expectation that women must be kind, submissive, and amenable to men. Sue is a woman, so she is supposed to be polite and nice. Even though she is clearly annoyed with Mike's advances, she still gives him a chance and of course, in the end, she starts to like him too. Sue just puts up with Mike's unacceptable behavior instead of sternly telling him to leave her alone. (yes, she tries to do this, but not very hard) So, this movie perpetuates the idea that no doesn't really mean no and that women secretly want aggressive and disrespectful men.
Then, this movie sends a negative message about women. Apparently, if a woman is ambitious and wants to make the world a better place, she is an uptight bitch in need of an immature man-child to loosen her up and show her how to have fun.
Finally, this movie upholds gender roles- men are supposed to be the providers, and women need a man to take care of them. Sue marries the douchebag yogurt guy because he can financially support her and their baby. Only when Mike gets his shit together and has a life plan does Sue finally decide to be with him.
I found it more difficult than usual to just sit back and enjoy this movie. Yes, I watch lots of superficial movies, many which negatively portray women. I mean, hello, I did just watch Bride Wars the other day, and I liked it. Yet, as I was watching Management, I could not help being angry and annoyed.
Mike (played by Steve Zahn) is a socially stunted, chain smoking, overgrown kid with no direction in his life. He works the night shift at a hotel owned by his parents and lives in a corner hotel room. Sue (played by Jennifer Aniston) is an uptight, anal retentive woman who sells corporate art and tries to make the world a better place by recycling and passing out Burger King coupons to homeless people. Mike and Sue's paths cross when Sue's business trip takes her to Arizona, where she stays at the hotel where Mike is employed.
Mike awkwardly and painfully tries to hit on Sue by bringing her complimentary bottles of bad wine. On the night of his second attempt, Sue allows him to touch her ass for what seemed like a prolonged and awkward length of time. Apparently, this is a consolation prize. The next day, Sue checks out of the hotel, but she doesn't leave without first having a quickie in the laundry room with Mike.
Mike then thinks that he is in love with Sue. Here's the basic story line: Mike buys a one way ticket to Maryland to woo Sue. This doesn't work, so he returns home. Sue later visits the hotel, and she and Mike have a fling and she meets his dying mother. Then Mike finds out that Sue has gone back to her boyfriend to live in Washington. Of course, Mike then goes to Washington to find Sue and literally parachutes into her swimming pool. Sue tells Mike that they can't be together because she is pregnant, and she needs someone who can provide for her, and apparently her ex-punk, yogurt entrepreneur douchebag boyfriend is just the guy who can do this.
Obviously, I did not like this movie. From a feminist perspective, it was absolutely awful. So, Mike can't take no for an answer and then he basically stalks Sue. And, apparently, this is supposed to be all sweet and romantic. Mike eventually grows on Sue and she starts to like him back, giving viewers the idea that stalking is okay and that love is possible if you are annoying, persistent, and lack respect for a woman's personal space. It completely diminishes the seriousness of stalking, and sends the message that women enjoy this voyeuristic and intrusive behavior. Oh, and if men try hard enough, women will give in and let you touch their ass- or more.
Next, this movie upholds the expectation that women must be kind, submissive, and amenable to men. Sue is a woman, so she is supposed to be polite and nice. Even though she is clearly annoyed with Mike's advances, she still gives him a chance and of course, in the end, she starts to like him too. Sue just puts up with Mike's unacceptable behavior instead of sternly telling him to leave her alone. (yes, she tries to do this, but not very hard) So, this movie perpetuates the idea that no doesn't really mean no and that women secretly want aggressive and disrespectful men.
Then, this movie sends a negative message about women. Apparently, if a woman is ambitious and wants to make the world a better place, she is an uptight bitch in need of an immature man-child to loosen her up and show her how to have fun.
Finally, this movie upholds gender roles- men are supposed to be the providers, and women need a man to take care of them. Sue marries the douchebag yogurt guy because he can financially support her and their baby. Only when Mike gets his shit together and has a life plan does Sue finally decide to be with him.
I found it more difficult than usual to just sit back and enjoy this movie. Yes, I watch lots of superficial movies, many which negatively portray women. I mean, hello, I did just watch Bride Wars the other day, and I liked it. Yet, as I was watching Management, I could not help being angry and annoyed.
1 comment:
Wait wait - you're fine with Bride Wars? I thought that movie was SO wildly offensive to women I couldn't even get through it - I had my friends come get me when it was over. I felt similarly about House Bunny, but sadly I saw that one in the theater so I was stuck.
Ew ew ew for these sexist movies, and honestly, for the actors that consent to do the scripts.
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