In Good Company

Director/scriptwriter Paul Weitz was blessed with a top cast for his comedy/drama "In Good Company." Here's a film that in some ways resembles and is a bit of a genre successor to "The Graduate," that 1960s iconoclastic gem. Even the new songs complement the story in the same way Simon and Garfunkel's lyrics melded with the story line in "The Graduate." Dennis Quaid as Dan Foreman is in his early fifties, a contented manager of a sports mag's ad department. His home life seems almost too good to be true. He loves his wife, Ann (Marg Helgenbergen) and gets on well with his two teenage daughters. The older one, Alex (Scarlett Johansson, in another deep and convincing performance), has a tennis scholarship to a New York State public university where the tuition isn't exactly sky high. But she wants to transfer to New York University in Greenwich Village to study creative writing where the cost is very, very steep.

Almost before you can get into your tub of popcorn Dan is struck with multiple whammies. His magazine is taken over by a mega-corporate raider, Teddy K, and a new ad department honcho, Carter Duryea (Topher Grace), only twenty-six years young, bounces Dan from his executive office while also anointing him as his designated "wingman." Earnest, inexperienced, foppish, supercilious and dangerous in that special way the inept invariably are, he poses a real threat to Dan's future. And Dan is worried about his future because Ann announces she's having a change-of-life baby.

And then Scarlett meets Carter. You need me to tell you what Dan's next mid-life crisis will be? "In Good Company" could have been just a mildly amusing sitcom. The fast-paced acting and the excellence of the cast - especially Quaid and young (she's still a teen) Johansson - kept me glued to the screen for the whole showing. And I admit to being troubled by the issues underlying and scenes showing peremptory firings. There's some ambiguity here - is that the only way for a prosperous corporation to go? Dan's pain at losing long-time co-workers is deeply etched on his face but is he more sentimental and loyal than realistic? I don't know. From the vantage point of a tenured academic with lifetime employment I found myself dragged into questions that I think Weitz meant to raise. Well, he did anyway.

Small roles are well performed by David Paymer as one of Dan's subordinates and Selma Blair who briefly shows up in the beginning as Carter's new wife, Kimberly. I always enjoy seeing this fine actress but her talent is wasted in brief roles.

And Manhattan restaurants where I eat and stores where I shop are all over the well-shot scenes and that always makes me happy.

A very good film.

9/10

"In Good Company" is a mixed bag as a comedy drama. It definitely won't seem to be a hilarious film to most people, but apparently is to some. The drama is enough to have this film stand alone in that area - with some rewriting to get rid of some of the weak attempts at humor in the dialog. Perhaps some young people who have become so used to divorce in society, and dysfunction in families, can feel at home and see this as comedy.

I give it six stars for two reasons. First, the leads, especially Dennis Quaid and Topher Grace play their parts very well. Second, it takes a very good overall shot at the corporate business world. Not all big corporations are as hard-hearted as Globecom is in this movie. But most have become part of a new-age culture of business lingo that is obfuscatory, insensitive, and diverting - all to be able to hammer home profit and gains at all costs.

So, with some light humor and mostly distraught emotions and life drama situations, this film does a little number on the greed that seems to guide the business culture today. It does have a nice ending with some learning maturing of the male leads.

Director Paul Weitz's Best Screenplay; Topher Grace's Break-Out in Film (his first and best film performance to date); Scarlett Johansson continued her rapid ascent in film at only age 19, and Dennis Quad hits a home run in one of his most endearing and connected performances.

Ignore the trailer that fails to capture the subtle moments in the film.

This is a nearly perfect "little film" with a great story that draws you in with believable charecters, and first rate performances by every actor.

'In Good Company' takes one through the balancing of middle-age fatherhood and career (Quad), with heart, humor, and a positive family-first theme (without resorting to cliches or the "Hollywood" treatment). Safe for 12+ year olds, and identifiable characters and themes for adults.

Add in the perspective of a bright mid-twenties professional's (Topher Grace) search for happiness - meaningful career, love, a wife, starting a family, and a life-mentor/father-figure (Quad), while navigating the good, the bad, and the indifferent of corporate personalities, and interesct the two generations, and you have a film that engages one from beginning to end.

Soundtrack is wonderfully in sync with the emotions of the film.

Co-star Johansson is flawless in building upon her breakout 'Lost In Translation' and 'Pearl Earring' performances. This mid-2000 decade acting period was when she made her mark, rapidly ascending to stardom, and honing her acting skills in key roles when she was only 18 to 20 years old.

Johansson's character (Quad's daughter and Grace's love interest) is essential to drawing Quad/Grace towards their inevitable surrogate father/son relationship, and she does so perfectly, making every actor around her look good - why she didn't receive Best Performance In A Supporting Role nomination is perplexing, but probably due to her already highly-recognized performances over the previous 18 months - quite an impressive resume for a teenager.

A must-see film and one that is just as great the second and third time viewing it.

Splendid performances by Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, and Scarlett Johannson.

Dennis Quaid plays the 51 year old ad executive whose company has been taken over by mogul Teddy Kay. Topher Grace is the hot shot who is sent into the mix to shake things up (fire people).

The interactions among the three stars is wonderful. I also enjoyed the genuine affection the family members had toward each other. It is nice to see family life portrayed in such a positive light.

The movie engaged me from beginning to end. The characters grow into their parts as the movie progresses.

By the unexpected ending I was totally engaged, caring about each one of these people.

I was able to see a pre-screening of this movie last night, and I was extremely excited because I have been anxiously waiting for its release. I have to admit that I was not disappointed in the least with what I saw. The movie had a good solid story of a middle-aged man dealing with both supporting his family and keeping his job (bordering on a mid-life crisis), and a young man dealing with a new job, being alone, and finding what he actually wants to do with the rest of his life. Sure, it sounds like a pretty typical "finding yourself" movie, but the characters develop the plot into something special. Topher Grace was excellent in this film. I found him very charming and believable, and he was sincere in his role. However, Dennis Quaid was really wonderful. His character was likable, and you found yourself routing for him throughout. His interactions with his family were endearing, and his relationship with his daughter Alex (Scarlett Johanssen) reminded me of my own father. I highly recommend this movie. 4/5