Employee of the Month (2006 film): Difference between revisions
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==Plot outline== |
==Plot outline== |
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For years, Zack Bradley ([[Dane Cook]]) has been working at the local "[[warehouse club|Super Club]]" as an ambitiously invisible box-boy. Living with his grandmother, and spending his free time with his box-boy crew, Lon ([[Andy Dick]]), Iqbal ([[Brian George]]) and Russell ([[Harland Williams]]). Zack keeps people's expectations of him as low as his profile. When his kiss-up coworker Vince Downey ([[Dax Shepard]]) earns the Employee of the Month title for the 17th time in a row, Zack couldn't care less. Vince is seen as being egotistical and rude towards his co-workers, mainly Jorge ([[Efren Ramirez]]), who he berates constantly. When new cashier Amy ([[Jessica Simpson]]) joins the store's staff, Zack falls for her. Zack, wanting to get some info on Amy, requests her file from human resources. Russell bribes the store's human resources manager by giving her some stolen [[Butterfinger]] bars he broke in exchange for Amy's personnel file. |
For years, Zack Bradley ([[Dane Cook]]) has been working at the local "[[warehouse club|Super Club]]" as an ambitiously invisible box-boy. Living with his grandmother, and spending his free time with his box-boy crew, Lon ([[Andy Dick]]), Iqbal ([[Brian George]]) and Russell ([[Harland Williams]]). Zack keeps people's expectations of him as low as his profile. When his kiss-up coworker Vince Downey ([[Dax Shepard]]) earns the Employee of the Month title for the 17th time in a row, Zack couldn't care less. Vince is seen as being egotistical and rude towards his co-workers, mainly Jorge ([[Efren Ramirez]]), who he berates constantly. When new cashier Amy ([[Jessica Simpson]]) joins the store's staff, Zack falls for her. Zack, wanting to get some info on Amy, requests her file from human resources. Russell bribes the store's human resources manager by giving her some stolen [[Butterfinger]] bars he broke in exchange for Amy's personnel file. Zack then discovers Amy is willing to date the next guy that becomes "Employee of the Month" Zack takes on current titleholder Vince to see who will win. He goes through many challenges and tasks to win her heart. Around the same time, it is revealed that the store is going to be [[audited]] by the company's head office due to some financial irregularities. Zack, bound and determined to win the title, alienates his friends along the way. Zack agrees to take Iqbal's shift on the day of a championship slo-pitch game against rival chain Maxi-Mart, he ends up leaving the department with no coverage to play in the game, in a move that would get Iqbal fired. Frustrated at Zack's new attitude, the trio get back at Zack when he attends a cashier's function by revealing that he is turning into Vince and feel his attempt at getting the title is a result of trying to [[sexual intercourse|get into Amy's pants]]. Amy overhears the conversation and is disgusted at Zack when the boys reveal his true intentions. At the end of the month, there is a tie between Zack and Vince. On the day of the competition, Zack has decided to quit as a result of the messes he caused but he manages to get Iqbal his job back. After a talk with his grandma, Zack goes to Iqbal's and tells him he took responsibility for what happened, and makes a heartfelt apology to Iqbal, Lon and Russell and says he plans to win the competition, not for recognition or to make an impression, but for pride which Iqbal told him earlier. When the store manager is about to announce Zack's resignation, Zack, Iqbal, Lon and Russell show up citing Zack never filed the resignation papers, which only happened when it is revealed Russell bribed the human resources manager with another broken Butterfinger bar. Despite Vince's protests, A competition is then held between them. The employee of the month award to be awarded to the person who finishes the task in lesser time. In the end, Vince just manages to beat Zack. During the award giving ceremony for the Employee of the Month, Semi, ([[Marcello Thedford]]) the guard of the store, shows up with a surveliance video of the competition which shows Vince putting a bag of oats behind his back and throwing it on the belt without ringing it through. When the tape is shown, Vince publicly denies the allegations of [[shoplifting|under-ringing]]. The store's assistant manager, who had just completed an audit of the tills used in the competition proved the surveliance video was right about Vince giving customers free things while marking the barcode (check one, skip one.), and has been doing this for sometime, costing the store thousands of dollars. When security tape footage is shown and his register receipt totals proved he cost the store money, Vince is fired and required to wear a police tracking device in lieu of jail time. Zack ends up winning the competition as well as the love of Amy. Six weeks following Vince's termination from SuperClub, he is on probation and working at a rival store Maxi-Mart. Jorge has finally learned to assert himself and gives Vince the same poor treatment that he was once given by Vince. |
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==Cast== |
==Cast== |
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Revision as of 08:04, 24 February 2009
| Employee of the Month | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Greg Coolidge |
| Written by | Screenplay Don Calame Chris Conroy Greg Coolidge Story Don Calame Chris Conroy |
| Produced by | Peter Abrams |
| Starring | Dane Cook Jessica Simpson Dax Shepard Andy Dick Tim Bagley Efren Ramirez and Harland Williams |
| Cinematography | Tony Richmond |
| Music by | John Swihart |
| Distributed by | Lions Gate Entertainment |
Release dates | October 6, 2006 |
| Language | English |
Employee of the Month is a 2006 American comedy film directed by Greg Coolidge and starring Dane Cook, Jessica Simpson and Dax Shepard. It focuses on two shop employees who compete for the affection of their newest co-worker. The movie was filmed at a Costco in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[1]
Plot outline
For years, Zack Bradley (Dane Cook) has been working at the local "Super Club" as an ambitiously invisible box-boy. Living with his grandmother, and spending his free time with his box-boy crew, Lon (Andy Dick), Iqbal (Brian George) and Russell (Harland Williams). Zack keeps people's expectations of him as low as his profile. When his kiss-up coworker Vince Downey (Dax Shepard) earns the Employee of the Month title for the 17th time in a row, Zack couldn't care less. Vince is seen as being egotistical and rude towards his co-workers, mainly Jorge (Efren Ramirez), who he berates constantly. When new cashier Amy (Jessica Simpson) joins the store's staff, Zack falls for her. Zack, wanting to get some info on Amy, requests her file from human resources. Russell bribes the store's human resources manager by giving her some stolen Butterfinger bars he broke in exchange for Amy's personnel file. Zack then discovers Amy is willing to date the next guy that becomes "Employee of the Month" Zack takes on current titleholder Vince to see who will win. He goes through many challenges and tasks to win her heart. Around the same time, it is revealed that the store is going to be audited by the company's head office due to some financial irregularities. Zack, bound and determined to win the title, alienates his friends along the way. Zack agrees to take Iqbal's shift on the day of a championship slo-pitch game against rival chain Maxi-Mart, he ends up leaving the department with no coverage to play in the game, in a move that would get Iqbal fired. Frustrated at Zack's new attitude, the trio get back at Zack when he attends a cashier's function by revealing that he is turning into Vince and feel his attempt at getting the title is a result of trying to get into Amy's pants. Amy overhears the conversation and is disgusted at Zack when the boys reveal his true intentions. At the end of the month, there is a tie between Zack and Vince. On the day of the competition, Zack has decided to quit as a result of the messes he caused but he manages to get Iqbal his job back. After a talk with his grandma, Zack goes to Iqbal's and tells him he took responsibility for what happened, and makes a heartfelt apology to Iqbal, Lon and Russell and says he plans to win the competition, not for recognition or to make an impression, but for pride which Iqbal told him earlier. When the store manager is about to announce Zack's resignation, Zack, Iqbal, Lon and Russell show up citing Zack never filed the resignation papers, which only happened when it is revealed Russell bribed the human resources manager with another broken Butterfinger bar. Despite Vince's protests, A competition is then held between them. The employee of the month award to be awarded to the person who finishes the task in lesser time. In the end, Vince just manages to beat Zack. During the award giving ceremony for the Employee of the Month, Semi, (Marcello Thedford) the guard of the store, shows up with a surveliance video of the competition which shows Vince putting a bag of oats behind his back and throwing it on the belt without ringing it through. When the tape is shown, Vince publicly denies the allegations of under-ringing. The store's assistant manager, who had just completed an audit of the tills used in the competition proved the surveliance video was right about Vince giving customers free things while marking the barcode (check one, skip one.), and has been doing this for sometime, costing the store thousands of dollars. When security tape footage is shown and his register receipt totals proved he cost the store money, Vince is fired and required to wear a police tracking device in lieu of jail time. Zack ends up winning the competition as well as the love of Amy. Six weeks following Vince's termination from SuperClub, he is on probation and working at a rival store Maxi-Mart. Jorge has finally learned to assert himself and gives Vince the same poor treatment that he was once given by Vince.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Dane Cook | Zack Bradley |
| Jessica Simpson | Amy Renfro |
| Dax Shepard | Vince Downey |
| Andy Dick | Lon |
| Brian George | Iqbal |
| Efren Ramirez | Jorge |
| Harland Williams | Russell |
| Sean Whalen | Dirk |
| Marcello Thedford | Semi |
| Danny Woodburn | Glen Ross |
Box office
Following its release, the film became the #1 most requested movie on AOL[1]. Despite the poor critical response, the film managed open to nearly $12 million in its opening weekend, debuting at #4 just behind Open Season. The movie was made on a $12 million budget, and has earned a little over $28 million in the United States.
![[1]](http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/6691/untitledsk2.jpg){kind=link}
In the United Kingdom the movie debuted at #4 opening with over £1,000,000 in returns. The film has grossed $34 million worldwide.
Cook posted the following on his official website in regard to the film's box office success:
We already made back our entire budget and now the movie is making a profit. Of the top 3 movies, we are the only film already out of the black (sic) and making money! This is great for me and my cast. It has sent a message that I can open a film up against HUGE COMPETITION with huge advertising budgets.
Promotion
The movie received heavy promotion from not only TV stations such as MTV, which aired sneak peeks of the movie every night after the "10 Spot", but a variety of websites including sites such as Perez Hilton, Myspace, and YouTube promoted the movie.
Jessica Simpson also appeared on many TV shows such as The Tonight Show, The Today Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and MTV's Total Request Live, where she was joined by Dane Cook to promote the movie release.
Dane Cook appeared as the host of the 2006 season opener of Saturday Night Live to promote the movie, though no mention of the film was made during his opening monologue or the subsequent sketches.[citation needed]
Reception
The movie was generally received with negative reviews. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave the movie a rating of 21% from 86 reviews and hence deemed "rotten".
DVD
The 2007 region one DVD release of the movie contains two commentaries: one featuring the director (Greg Coolidge) on his own, giving more technical information about the film; the second commentary features the director and star Dane Cook, who spends more time pointing out the origins of gags and actors throughout the movie. The disc also contains extra improv scenes by actors Andy Dick and Harland Williams, an alternate opening with Eva Longoria showing Vince and Zack's first day on the job watching a video tape for new employees, an "At Work with Lon" feature showing Dick in character attempting to help to customers at Super Club, plus trailers for other Lionsgate films.
The film is also available in Blu-Ray format.
References
- ^ Friedman, Roger (2006-09-20). "Meg Ryan and Vogue Ready 'The Women'". Retrieved 2008-06-04.
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