We all have our gifts. For some it’s the ability to hit a little red ball nine times out of ten. For some, it’s being able to take a piece of wood and some metal wires and being able to belt out a tune that is remembered for generations. For me, it’s the ability to sit through just about any movie, no matter how dodgy it is. And recently, this skill has been sorely tested.

It all started with Leatherheads. This was followed up with Clerks II. I fail to understand how a movie that includes a donkey sex show could still manage to put me to sleep, yet it managed. Next came Hancock, more on that one at a later date, but what a sucky superhero weakness. Finally, came “The Promotion”.

From the cover it looked like it should be amusing. Sean William Scott and John C Reilly get to fight over a promotion in the cut-throat world of supermarket management. Hilarity and hijinks should have ensued, possibly coupled with the odd caw-caw and tooky tooky. Instead boredom and death defying dullness was what followed once play had been pressed.

The only part of the film that was at all memorable was during a speech in which it was promised that the supermarket chain, donaldson’s or stevenson’s or some name that you would remember if they had’ve inspired any degree of caring, would continue to provide trolleys with one wheel that doesn’t work. The fact that this is all I remember of the film speaks volumes.

Their may have been dodginess, but this has been wiped out by the overwhelming apathy, which is the only feeling inspired by the film. If given a choice between watching “The Promotion” or “Aeon Flux” I would have to choose the latter. At least that could be made amusing in a mystery science theatre 3000 way.

If you have to avoid one film this year, make sure that it’s this one.

And Remember – We watch them, so you don’t have to.