Hollywood comedies have been so loud and broad for so long now that when a quieter one comes along, audiences often don't know how to respond. That's what happened to 2005's The Weather Man, the melancholy comedy about a TV weather man juggling family and career written by Fort Lauderdale native Steven Conrad: The film was rarely obvious in its humor, and it was not afraid to occasionally edge into sad or even dark territory.

Now comes The Promotion, Conrad's directorial debut, which essentially covers the same subject matter but in a more accessible, less ambiguous way. But I fear it is still going to slip by unnoticed like The Weather Man did, because Conrad doesn't like writing clownish characters who never take off the makeup, and contemporary comedies that aren't accompanied by a figurative laugh track almost always fail at the box office.

Conrad uses a humanistic approach reminiscent of Alexander Payne in this story about Doug (Seann William Scott), an assistant manager at a Chicago supermarket in line to be promoted to manager at a new store the market's corporate parent is building (''You're a shoo-in,'' his boss, played by Saturday Night Live's Fred Armisen, tells him).

But before the position is filled, another assistant manager, Richard (John C. Reilly), is transferred to Chicago and hired to work alongside Doug. Richard, too, immediately starts campaigning for the promotion, and soon the two men -- conscionable, friendly, responsible adults -- are waging a passive-aggressive war to sabotage each other's chances.

Scott (American Pie, The Rundown) and Reilly (Walk Hard, Talladega Nights) are veterans at broad, Sandleresque comedy, but director Conrad does something unexpected with both actors, keeping them on a tight leash so the film never spills over into farce. The humor in The Promotion comes from the all-too-recognizable desperation the men feel, stuck in jobs where advance opportunities are rare, and salary raises too small to cover the price of gas.

The Promotion does occasionally paint in broad strokes, like a corporate morale-building retreat (led by Jason Bateman in a cameo) where the employees walk on coals and play role-playing games. But the film's refusal to take its characters anything less than seriously makes it cut deeper than a Will Ferrell lampoon. ''I'm 33 years old, and I'm peanuts,'' Doug says to himself, doubting his self-worth and identity. By taking the time to make that connection with the audience, The Promotion ensures we'll forgive these guys anything -- and laugh along with them -- in their quest to advance their lots.

Cast: Seann William Scott, John C. Reilly, Fred Armisen. Jenna Fischer, Lili Taylor, Bobby Cannavale.

Writer-director: Steven Conrad.

Producers: Jessica Goyer, Steven A. Jones.

A Dimension Films release. Running time: 85 minutes. Vulgar language, drug use, adult themes. In Miami-Dade: AMC CocoWalk, Aventura, Regal South Beach; in Broward: Regal Sawgrass, Muvico Paradise.

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