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

Workaholic and sleazy businessman Sam is extremely reluctant to leave New York and go to his father's funeral. When he finally arrives, it becomes apparent that his mother and girlfriend are disappointed in him for "running away" whenever times get too emotional. Soon afterwards, he discovers that his father was sleeping around with another woman, and that Sam actually has a half-sister whom he never knew existed. His father has willed her $150,000 and has left Sam with the task of getting it to her. Frankie is a bartender also wrapped up in work just like her half-brother, and she has had a bad past and has now been left with the job of being a single parent to her troublemaker son, Josh. Josh is eleven years old but curses like a sailor and constantly makes fart jokes and sex jokes, making him popular with the bad kid crowd at school, although behind the act, Josh is depressed and lonely. Now Sam has to find a way to fix the past and reunite his mom, nephew and half-sister together ...

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Plot Keywords:

money | salesman | bartender | child psychologist | caught in a lie | 

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Taglines:

Find your family.

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Genres:

Comedy | 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 Spanish

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 USA:

$4,255,423, 1 July 2012, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$12,412,386, 19 August 2012

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks,K/O Paper Products,Reliance Entertainment

Technical Specs

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

Lillian: I hope you never have to know what it's like to love someone, and then find out you're not enough. I was trying to protect you from ever feeling that. Don't you think I believed I was flying to your defense with all the courage in my heart?

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Connections

Referenced in Need for Speed (2014)

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Soundtracks

Sunrise
Written and Performed by Eric Carmen
Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc.
By arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

predictable and too much of the American "feel good" vibe

I honestly don't get why this movie has an average rating over a 7. OK, there are some good aspects to this film. The acting is solid, and...well I guess that's about it. The plot is very thin and the entire outline can be predicted in about 15 minutes. But the most annoying part of the film was the extremely sweet American way of trying to make the viewers feel good. They try so hard that it backfires and on me it had the exact opposite effect. Real shame, because the story, which is based on actual events, had potential. This artificially "feel-good" vibe hinders the viewer from identifying with the main characters, and decreases the reality level of the film. Which is of course strange to say the least as it is, as I already mentioned, inspired by actual events.