People Like Us (2012)

While settling his recently deceased father's estate, a salesman discovers he has a sister whom he never knew about, leading both siblings to re-examine their perceptions about family and life choices.

Director:

Alex Kurtzman

Writers:

Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci,

Stars:

Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Michelle Pfeiffer

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chris Pine	...	Sam
Elizabeth Banks	...	Frankie
Michael Hall D'Addario	...	Josh
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Lillian
Olivia Wilde	...	Hannah
Mark Duplass	...	Ted
Sara Mornell	...	Dr. Amanda
Philip Baker Hall	...	Ike Rafferty
Dean Chekvala	...	Jerry
Barbara Eve Harris	...	Mrs. Haney
David Burrus	...	Derek
Joseph Wise	...	Danny
Devin Brochu	...	Simon
Gabriela Milla	...	Lucy
Abhi Sinha	...	Manager

Storyline

Sam has been keeping his distance from his father. When his father dies, he goes home for the funeral, and to see if his father left him any money so that he could bail himself out of his latest jam. But he learns that his father left all of his money to someone named Josh Davis. He finds him and learns that he is the troubled son of a woman named Frankie. Sam thinks she is his sister. He doesn't give the money cause he needs it. He makes contact with her but doesn't tell her who he is. Eventually they become friends and even helps Josh with his problems.

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Plot Keywords:

money | funeral | three word title | therapy | deceit | 

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Taglines:

Find your family.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language, some drug use and brief sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 June 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Welcome to People

Filming Locations:

Claremont, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$16,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$4,255,423 (USA) (29 June 2012)

Gross:

$12,412,386 (USA) (17 August 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks SKG, Kurtzman Orci Paper Products, Reliance Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Post production was temporarily delayed while additional scenes featuring Michelle Pfeiffer, Chris Pine and Olivia Wilde could be shot in Los Angeles in July 2011.

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Goofs

In the very early stage of the movie Sam enters James room. You can see from the window which Sam sits by that it is night time, but they leave the building it is morning time.

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Quotes

Sam: Six Rules: 1. If you like something because you think other people are gonna like it, it's a sure bet no one will. 2. Most doors in the world are closed, so if you find one you want to get into: you damn well better have an interesting knock. 3. Everything you think is important, isn't. And everything you think is unimportant, is. 4. Don't shit where you eat. 5. Lean into it: the outcome doesn't matter. What matters is that you're there for it. 6. Never sleep with someone who has more problems ...

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Connections

Referenced in South Park: A Nightmare on Facetime (2012)

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Soundtracks

"Jamming Late At Night"
Written by Martin Haene, Joerg Sieghart
Performed by Martin Haene, Joerg Sieghart

User Reviews

A good movie with a good message.

You know, it's always good to see a non-action film during the summer movie season every once in a while; even if it has an actual message to it.

Going into People Like Us, I was rather excited. I had a feeling that this would turn out to be a good drama. Maybe it won't be award-worthy or anything, just good as like a regular drama with a good message. After the seeing the movie, I came out feeling touched by it. People Like Us was such a good movie.

STORY: People Like Us has a very simple plot. After his father passed away, Sam, a salesman (Chris Pine) has to deliver $150,000 – which was left behind by his father – to Frankie (Elizabeth Banks), a sister whom he never knew about. As the relationship develops, Sam tries to re-examine his own life choices.

MY THOUGHTS: The writing/dialogue in People Like Us is believable and very good; the music score is beautiful and sets the emotional tone well; the ending to it is so touching and downright perfect that it made me left the theater with emotion. This movie does a great job talking about the loss of a loved one and trying to re-think choices in life.

The only problem I had with People Like Us was that the movie started off a bit slow, but then it gets better as it goes on.

THE ACTING: Chris Pine does an excellent job playing Sam, a guy whose father had passed away, and wants to re-think his own choices in life. Elizabeth Banks does great playing Frankie, a sister that Sam never knew he had. The ever-so gorgeous Olivia Wilde had a good supporting role as Sam's girlfriend. Michelle Pfeiffer is fantastic as the mother. The kid is fantastic as well.

IN CONCLUSION: Although slow at times, People Like Us is such a good drama featuring great performances, good dialogue, and an ending that made me feel touched.

8/10