Reviewed By: Flickman
I was browsing for a comedy to watch and landed on Demoted. I vaguely remembered seeing it years ago when it first came out, but since I couldn’t recall much about it, I figured I’d give it another shot. What mainly drew me in was the cast – Sean Astin, David Cross, and Michael Vartan. As a huge fan of The Goonies and honestly of all three actors, it felt like an easy choice. Sean Astin obviously isn’t a kid anymore and this role is completely different from what many people associate him with, but I still enjoy seeing him on screen.
The story follows Rodney and Mike, two tire salesmen whose lives take a turn when their longtime boss dies. Their new boss, Ken Castro (David Cross), harbors a grudge from being bullied in the past and decides to demote them to secretarial positions as payback. At the same time, Rodney is engaged and lies to his fiancée and future father-in-law, claiming he’s been promoted instead of demoted.
The plot is very predictable and doesn’t bring anything new to the table, but for a comedy, it’s at least worth a single watch. The movie honestly feels more like a TV show than a feature film, so if you’re a fan of The Office, Arrested Development, or similar workplace comedies, you might enjoy it. That said, there are also some raunchy and crude moments that lean more toward American Pie-style humor, just without the teenage angle. If that kind of comedy isn’t your thing, this one may not work for you. Overall, it feels like a strange mix of The Office and American Pie.
There isn’t a whole lot more to say, so I’ll keep this short. I did enjoy the cast, and even though the plot was simple and unoriginal, it at least made sense for what it was trying to be. I can’t realistically imagine a scenario where two salesmen would be demoted to secretarial roles, but the absurdity still led to a few laughs. Within the first ten minutes, it’s obvious that Rodney and Mike will gain respect for the secretaries once they’re forced into their shoes, but I still wanted to see how everything played out and stick around for the humor.
Overall, Demoted isn’t a laugh-out-loud comedy or a movie you’ll remember long-term, but it does have its moments. In some ways, it reminded me of Waiting…, though it’s nowhere near as good. There are scenes that will make you laugh if you enjoy this style of comedy, and others that make you feel bad for how the characters are treated. If you’re bored and just looking for a brainless comedy to kill an hour and a half, this one might be worth a shot. It’s not an award winner by any means, but it’s also not a total bottom-of-the-barrel disaster. Just take it for what it is.
Overall Verdict: If you enjoy workplace comedies, America Pie-style films and want something brainless to watch, then give a go. It's nothing spectacular but will probably keep you entertained enough for what it is.
Releasing: February 27, 2026
Releasing: March 6, 2026
Releasing: March 6, 2026