With "The Promotion," you expect a comedy, maybe even a silly comedy given the stars - Seann William Scott ("American Pie"), John C. Reilly ("Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby"), Jenna Fischer ("The Office") and Fred Armisen ("Saturday Night Live").

Oh, it is funny - two guys competing for the job of manager at a new grocery store. But it's unexpectedly a lot more.

Credit Steven Conrad, who wrote "Pursuit of Happyness," "The Weather Man" and "Wrestling Ernest Hemingway." He wrote this one, too, and it's also his directorial debut. He does fine with that, but it's his storytelling that makes this small film such a big surprise.

The film opens on Doug (Scott), diligent assistant manager at a Donaldson's supermarket in suburban Chicago. You start smiling immediately, thinking of all your own trips to the store and all the, shall we say, interesting people you see there. They're here, too. There's the shot, down the aisle of the guy reaching for deodorant, shoving it up under his shirt, wiping it on his armpits, replacing the cap and putting it back on the shelf. Mental note: Check deodorant package before buying next time.

Doug's co-workers are fairly recognizable, too. And Doug seems familiar - the middle manager who wants more. He has a wife (Fischer) he loves and they have an apartment they hate. They want a home, one where they can't hear the guy next door playing banjo.

While jogging in his neighborhood, Doug sees a sign on a chain-link fence. Donaldson's has taken over the location from the previous owner and is going to open a new store on that spot. Doug sees it as his big break. When he goes in to work, he talks over that possibility with his boss, Scott (Armisen), the store manager. Scott earnestly encourages Doug, declaring the store veteran a shoo-in.

Enter Richard (Reilly), from the company's Canadian branch. Equally likable, Richard tells Doug his wife (Lili Taylor) was transferred, so he put in for the vacant second assistant manager spot at Doug's store. They run into each other again in the neighborhood where Richard discovers the new store location and the camera deftly captures both men drawing battle lines in their mind.

At this juncture, you again expect silliness and back-stabbing from a junior high point of view. What you get is a subtle and thoughtful look at two men striving to provide for their families and wanting to feel successful, while facing negative - and natural - urges to bury the other in any way possible.

There are some very funny moments as that plays out, and some poignant ones. Reilly and Scott richly mine their characters, alternately confiding in and undermining each other. Their vulnerability and yearning for the good life is a quiet but powerful statement that will stay with you long after the closing credits.

"The Promotion." Running time: 1 hour, 25 minutes. Rated: R. 3 stars.

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