In Good Company Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
He's rich, young and handsome. He's in love with you and he's your dad's boss.
Dan Foreman is headed for a shakeup. He is demoted from head of ad sales for a major magazine when the company he works for is acquired in a corporate takeover. His new boss, Carter Duryea, is half his age—a business school prodigy who preaches corporate synergy. While Dan develops clients through handshake deals and relationships, Carter cross-promotes the magazine with the cell phone division and Krispity Krunch, an indeterminate snack food under the same corporate umbrella. Both men are going through turmoil at home. Dan has two daughters, Alex, age 18, and Jana, age 16, and is shocked when his wife tells him she's pregnant with a new child. Carter, in the meanwhile, is dumped by his wife of seven months just as he gets his promotion. Dan and Carter's uneasy friendship is thrown into jeopardy when Carter falls for, and begins an affair with, Dan's daughter Alex.
| Dennis Quaid | Dan Foreman |
| Topher Grace | Carter Duryea |
| Scarlett Johansson | Alex Foreman |
| Marg Helgenberger | Ann Foreman |
| David Paymer | Morty Wexler |
| Clark Gregg | Mark Steckle |
| Philip Baker Hall | Eugene Kalb |
| Selma Blair | Kimberly |
| Frankie Faison | Corwin |
| Ty Burrell | Enrique Colon |
| Kevin Chapman | Lou |
| Amy Aquino | Alicia |
| Zena Grey | Jana Foreman |
| Colleen Camp | Receptionist |
| Lauren Tom | Obstetrician |
| Paul Weitz |
6.90 out of 10 (20874 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Will the Real Topher Grace Please Stand Up?!
posted on 27 Jul 2009Going In:Just so you know, I am a huge fan of Dennis Quaid. Ever since Innerspace with Martin Short, I have admired the great filmography of The Rookie. That being said, I am not a fan of Scarlett Johansson. Why? I just don't care for her look. I might have had to seek counseling if see had become the next Lois Lane … GO KATE BOSWORTH! So you know, I offered to take my beautiful wife to see this movie if she let me see Elektra. What a trade-off … HA!Review:An aging ad executive, Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid), discovers that business in the 21st Century is built on merges and acquisitions. We come to know Dan as he prepares for his daily trip to the high rise called New York City. His preparation is done in the dark with only the sound of bad news delivered by cable news from the kitchen TV. Ouch … What a why to find out your company has just been bought by the biggest company in the world. Picture the diversification of the old Phillip Morris … not just cigarettes.This day at the office sets the theme for the rest of the movie. By now, you are probably wondering why I haven't mentioned That 70's Show sensation Topher Grace. Who names their kid Topher anyway? Moving forward, now is a good to let you know that I am not a huge fan of Mr. Grace. (Sounds much better not using that awful first name; too much like Tofu.) He plays the same dorky yet spunky character in each of his roles including his portrayal of an ambitious young professional named Cater Duryea. Remember Win A Date With Tad Hamilton? Now you feel me …Back to the Review! On Dan's first day, he thinks his daughter Alex (Scarlett Johansson) is pregnant, he looses his office to Mr. "Boss Man" Grace that just happens to be half his age, and finally finds out he is not fired only the future father to yet another child. WOW! During all of this, comedy is always around the corner. Honestly, I would have hated this movie had it not been for Quaid's wonderful dry since of humor. Paul Weitz (Writer/Director) cared just enough to give us a look into the aging world of a true American father. One who wants nothing more than for his wife and children to be happy, sacrificing his own self-fulfillment in the process. What a man to admire.I don't want to sit here and spoil the entire plot for you, but it involves Mr. Grace and Mrs. Johansson. Hint! Hint! Let your imagination take it from here. Oh … did I mention that Selma Blair has a small yet effective role in this movie. She would have made a great Lois Lane … HA! So you, my faithful audience, don't leave feeling frustrated and confused, I have constructed a few lines for the film that may get you into the theater after this review. Enjoy."I have absolutely no idea what I am doing … Don't tell anybody okay." Carter Duryea (You don't have to tell me twice Mr. Grace; I would love to see you take a dramatic role. PLEASE!)"I think you have the potential to be an awesome wing-man." Carter Duryea (Do we really have to borrow from Top Gun?)"I have to go home and have dinner with my family … Do you want to have dinner with my family?" Dan Foreman (Opps! Big Mistake!)"You kids ready to come in for dinner?" Dan Foreman (Yes … finally someone who understands. Thank You Dennis Quaid, Thank You!)To wrap up, romantic comedies are just not complete without a poster love song. In Good Company finds its poster in Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill". Great Song! The perfect placement of this song may have just saved this movie from plunging to the depths of heartache. You may be disappointed with the ending if you don't like to complete the film in your imagination. Being an only child, imagination is the only thing that got me through growing up in the sticks. This movie turns out great … HA!Conclusion:Teddy K! Looking back, this movie has both its moments of pure joy and those moments I like to call, "Why am I here?" Overall, I would recommend this movie to you if you want to see Dennis Quaid at what he does best … acting. I will not however call Topher Grace performance acting. It was Topher Grace. To make my case even more believable, take a look at the article written by our fearless leader Master Critic entitled "Why aren't there more great actresses?" You might say the same thing of our newest generation of actor. Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?!Rated PG-13 because of a White Butt and the inside view of an NYU dorm room … Lamp Shades.
Not to Shabby!
posted on 23 Jul 2009This movie is a little different in the way it ends, but the ending keeps it real so to speak. This movie isn't non-stop action, but Topher Grace is remarkably entertaining and his child-like innocence and loneliness made him endearing. If you are the type of person who needs non-stop action to keep you interested, you might find this movie a little boring, but for those of you who fall in love with your characters, I think you'll be presently surprised when you watch this film. There is a good message, and a certain kind of honesty/truth we can all appreciate.~Heather~
Sprightly, Well-Acted Comedy/Drama That Overcomes the Threat of Predictability
posted on 01 Jul 2009Director/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
Very good slice of life comedy
posted on 19 Jun 2009Dennis Quaid is the main reason to see this modest but pleasing comedy about a middle-aged sales executive faced with some big changes in his once-stable life, including a new boss (Topher Grace) who is half his age, a post-menopausal yet somehow pregnant wife (Marg Helgenberger), and a college-age daughter (Scarlett Johannsen) who is about to attend NYU ("I thought we agreed on SUNY") and wants to live on her own. Nothing special plot-wise, but a pleasure to behold in the acting category. Besides Quaid as the beset and beleaguered everyman, TV thesp Grace shines as Quaid's new and thoroughly inexperienced boss, the result of a corporate takeover. Grace exhibits superb timing, and is likely to be the next Jake Gyllenhall or Tobey Maguire. Only Scarlett Johannsen as the college-bound daughter seems slightly off-kilter. She really isn't given much to do here, other than to have a fling with the newly divorced Grace. For serious film buffs, watch for the ever-reliable David Paymer as Quaid's office colleague in constant fear of losing his job. Three missteps -- Helgenberger being rushed prematurely to the hospital, Quaid's clichéd reaction to his daughter's affair, and Quaid and Grace teaming up at the 11th hour to save their jobs -- keep this character study from being rated higher. Nice location photography, decent soundtrack. See it for Quaid, a real movie star who makes Tom Cruise look like the clown he is (most of the time).
In Good Company: 7/10
posted on 15 Jun 2009There are three things you should never discuss with your barber: politics, religion, and the better of the two Quaid brothers. While most would probably say Dennis (present company included), don't give Randy the chop just because he hasn't hit a good role since the Vacation movies. But Dennis is becoming a less popular, less successful, less attractive Jude Law (he's been in four movies this year). The only one of his that became a large hit was The Day After Tomorrow. He, however, leads a talented cast in a movie by a talented writer. Paul Weitz (who, along with his brother Chris, made the American Pie movies and About a Boy) seems to have a knack for making "old people" movies (my God...I've never seen so many elderly people in a theater since I saw Closer!). Not that there's anything wrong with that-his movies deserve to bring in some bank.Dan (Quaid) is an advertising executive whose company is taken over by Ted Turner, er, Teddy K (an uncredited Malcolm McDowell). Dan's demoted, much to his dismay, as his third child's on the way. Dan's new boss is Carter (Topher Grace), someone half his age. Through twists of fate, Carter winds up at Dan's house for dinner one night and meets his oldest (college-age) daughter Alex (Scarlett Johansson). They fall in love (behind Dan's back), and soon it becomes a battle of the class, so to speak. Is it truly age before beauty? There's something about In Good Company that was just a little bit off. It's hard to put a finger on it, but I think it's the lack of one central plot. It goes from Dan's demotion to Carter's takeover to Carter courting Alex to another corporate takeover, without much connecting it all. The story's probably one of the most plausible of 2004, what which this topsy-turvy economy, and the movie's hitting it close to home. The characters in In Good Company are pretty realistic. Dan's the average American dad who's going through the hell of putting money together for colleges. There's one part where I think Quaid's character wasn't consistent. When Dan's youngest (soon to be middle) child is on the phone with her boyfriend, Dan picks up another phone and makes a threatening comment, something I couldn't see an average parent doing. Carter is more defined and easier to see into, but is also a more challenging one to play. Quaid's a much more accomplished actor (I mean, come on...Cold Creek Manor AND The Alamo back to back?), but Grace seems to not do this just for the paycheck.However, In Good Company didn't really have much of the humor that About a Boy or American Pie had. Company had a simple story, and some simple humor. It's not very complicated at all, one of those movies you can sit back and enjoy watching. It's not going to tax your brain, you'll have a few small larfs or two, and you may learn something about yourself. Well, probably not, but it beats doing crack.My rating: 7/10 Rated PG-13 for some sexual content and drug references.
Current and resonating
posted on 02 May 2009Hollywood never had much of a clue about the experience of working in a large corporation, but this is the only movie I ever saw that expressed the helplessness of having ones career in the hands of corporate power brokers who are as clueless as they are reckless.Its also the first great Dennis Quaid performance I've seen. His character has charm and dignity throughout events that belittle him. His company is reorganized justified by immature corporate cogs, spouting buzz words like synergy. His friends are fired, and he is demoted, yielding his role to a 26 year old, corporate phony, Carter Duryea, played by Topher Grace.The acting performances were pretty good across the board, one of the fine points of this film was Carter's development from selfish to selfless. Scarlett Johansson is as sweet as ever. My only complaint was the happy ending was too contrived for an otherwise realistic movie. I would recommend this to almost anyone, but particularly to those who work in large companies.
Smart, humorous and well-acted.
posted on 24 Apr 2009I'm not much into such type of films but I found myself satisfactorily entertained at the end, perhaps because the film rightly abandoned cheesy humor from its script and included some fresh and smart material. Another reason is nice performances by the two lead actors, Dennis Quaid and Topher Grace. Labelling Quaid's work especially as 'nice' is perhaps an understatement. He's really awesome in this role. He masterfully refrained from showing a large variety of emotions in certain circumstances, which other big actors might have done but normal people wouldn't. His portrayal of the normal character of an ad executive, father and middle-aged husband is definitely flawless.Topher Grace also pulled off a decent job. I read this role was going to Ashton Kutcher, thank god it didn't. Grace's role is a multidimensional character, often sympathetic, sometimes geeky and sometimes villainous. His character changes quite a lot throughout the film. It's good to see Grace handled that maturely. Although in some places I was seeing influences of Tobey McGuire in his expressions. Scarlett Johansson, although one of the finest young actresses today, perpetually carried a sheepish expression throughout the film, I don't know why. Beside that, she's done a good job as well.I liked the ending which did a nice work avoiding the clichés. It is one of the main reasons why I liked this film. It's definitely not a masterpiece, but it's one of the most nicely made films of 2004, considering its expectations. Oh, and the soundtrack is really beautiful. 6.5/10
Avoid this formulaic flick
posted on 16 Apr 2009A formulaic flick that not only plays out as expected, you can predict lines that will be spoken. I am amazed at all the positive reviews at rottentomatoes as I could not stand it.In the movie, an "evil" company takes over a media company and increases workload while firing people. Dennis Quaid is demoted and has to work for 26-year old boss Topher Grace while Grace starts dating Quaid's 18-year old NYU freshman daughter Scarlett Johanson. As this is a "dra-medy" both hilarity and tears follow.The word "synergy" is bandied about as the most evil thing known to man. By the end of the movie, you will be sick of hearing it over and over again.At times it feels like entire scenes were dropped on the editing room that leads to a very disjointed timeline.If you are expecting About a Boy 2 you will be sorely disappointed.Only positives are Topher Grace holding his own and Scarlett looking beautiful. Another positive you might consider are my 2 friends I saw it with who decided to take naps during the 2nd half of the movie.
A decent film with great characters
posted on 10 Apr 2009In Good Company was a quite enjoyable experience. I found it tough going to begin with, but as it progressed I really found myself getting to know these characters and enjoying watching them. The main plot of the film is that Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid) is an advertising executive and he gets a new boss, Carter Duryea (Topher Grace) who is half his age. Carter has trouble with his wife, and then he meets Dan's daughter and the film gets rolling. I'm gonna just jump here and say that I think Dennis Quaid was great in this film. I know there's no link but it's just the one thing that sticks out in my mind the most. He delivered a subtle comedic gem of a performance that had me smiling. (Credit to the writers to of course, for some of the funnier scenes.) I've always kind of likened him to a "on-a-budget Harrison Ford" the sort of guy you'd get if you couldn't afford Harrison Ford, despite the obvious fact that Quaid is the better actor, but just doesn't have Ford's status. Anyway... The film was very enjoyable, it was very competently made and quite original. It also raised issues about family and businesses via the characters. Recommended if you fancy a character movie featuring aspects of family.
A Company That Works
posted on 04 Apr 2009Dennis Quaid and incoming star Topher Grace ignite the screen with remarkable synergy in a comedy that touches the values of friendship, family, fortune, and fate, and what a decent "company" that is assembled here. This is an endearing film exploring the unlikely relationship between a 23-year World Com veteran and his youthful hot shot "boss", as they clash heads and renew alliances, all in the course of combating corporate cut-throating. Quaid and Grace work with some surprising synergy together, and it is increasingly amusing throughout the film to watch their peculiar and uncomfortable relationship develop actually flourish against all odds, a father-son, yet executive and official, bond. Dan Foreman (Quaid) is experiencing somewhat of a midlife crisis, and appears tarnished by his unseemly demotion, plunging into mortgage to support his daughter (Scarlet Johansson)'s NYU college tuition, and even discovering an unexpected child is on the way ("When he's 21, I'll be...72!"). Life deals us dour blows sometimes, but there's always family and friendship to revive our sanity along the way, and "In Good Company" denotes the trials and tribulations of life with comedy, refinement, and honesty. We witness Dan Foreman doing his absolute best to support his family, yet enduring numerous threats to his stability. Just when he dismisses newcomer "chieftain" Carter Duryea (Grace) as juvenile and insignificant, he surprisingly develops a love-hate relationship that spans from executive to fatherly affairs. Here is a dramedy that is about connecting with and trusting the unknown and learning to dismiss our adversities with laughter and honesty. Learning to live with the most unlikeliest of relations, combating the surly corporate downsizing cycle with compassion and temerity, and at the end of the day, realizing that we can accept the adversities of our lives without succumbing to them. This is a well-meaning, fresh comedy laced with some corporate and personal dramas we can all relate to, yet lacking much of a satisfying resolution in tying all of the scenarios and problems together in something of a cop-out polished ending. "In Good Company" is a hearty and refreshing effort, ultimately an exceptionally earnest, deft and important character piece, and a marvelously collaborative and human ensemble from some exceedingly promising stars in Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, and Scarlet Johansson, who all deliver some fine and human performances. ***1/2 out of ****
A Nutshell Review: In Good Company
posted on 19 Mar 2009It is a challenge to thoroughly explore this drama. It's an excellent film, which deals with many contemporary themes, with great character development brought out by a superb cast with chemistry. Whilst some might view this film through romantic lenses, I'd prefer to view this film differently, from another angle, probably because I'm a salaried man myself, and at times, see myself in one of the characters now (no prizes for guessing who).This film's premise is steeped in the realities of today's business world of mergers and acquisitions, layoffs associated, of office politics and relationships, and of corporate jungle survival. Dennis Quaid plays a Dan, a senior sales manager in his 50s, juggling life with adolescent teenage daughters (the emphasis being Scarlett Johansson's Alex) and his wife, who's expecting their newborn baby, and with his job, when his company has just been bought over and merged into a conglomerate. Suddenly his career is filled with uncertainty, as everyone in the company is worried over whether they'd still have their jobs once the dust settles, with new management being put in place - and this means Dan is no longer the main man, but the "wingman".As with businesses these days, the emphasis is always on revenue, sales numbers, and the bottom line. We are shown, through the cast members, the pain of being laid off. It never is easy being a manager, and the dread when you'd have to ask members of your team, the team you picked and groomed, to leave. Some see it coming, some take it in their stride, others just can't. And that's the job of Dan's new manager Carter Duryea (played by fresh faced Topher Grace), who's half Dan's age, tasked with increasing sales revenue, and trimming the bottom line.The film is also about relationships, and relationships here are multi-fold. Dan and Carter do not hit it off on the right note, basically because Carter just waltzes right into Dan's job, even though he lacks the experience in the industry, but he's young, energetic, and a proved go-getter. Dan feels threatened - it's understandable, especially when you have to put food on the table, put your kids to University, and going to have a new addition to the family. You have mortgage to pay for, and I think many salaried men will identify immediately with the situation at hand. Carter knows he's a threat to Dan, but initially for his own selfish reasons, he keeps Dan by his side (he needed someone with experience to teach him the ropes), defying upper management preference to lay Dan off because of his fat salary, thus he lays off Dan's team members. One of the more poignant moment in the film, the most realistic I think, is when faced with the reality of survival, of You or the Other Man, what choice would you make? But slowly and steadily, a mentor-mentee relationship forms between the two, until Carter falls for Dan's daughter Alex. Although their romance takes a backseat to the relationship between Dan and Carter, whatever romance is shown on screen is sweet - their first dates, their long walks, their worry of letting Dan discover their secret. But there is also doubt if it'll work out - Alex wants to concentrate on school, and is worried that Carter is on a rebound after his divorce. Carter, on the other hand, we question his intentions, whether he just wants someone to fill his loneliness, or if he's really in love with Alex.This film is also about the importance of family, and the lack thereof. We see Dan with his very normal functional family - strong relationships and love amongst everyone. Which Carter envies. We see Carter's broken marriage, his unsupportive and adulterous wife whom he divorces, a mention of his parents who separated, and of his loneliness, which resulted in burning weekends at the office, and inviting himself over to Dan's home for dinner, just to beat being alone. He's a modern day poor little rich kid, and I identify with him on the loneliness bit.Sometimes. the film pokes fun at corporate values, mission statements, themes of synergy, and showcases the office balls-carrier. A good reminder is brought out in - in today's world, the only constant is change, so break down your arrogance, as you'll never know what the next merger or acquisition will bring. One day you're at the top, the next you might be out.Peppered throughout are contemporary folk songs, which just seem to evoke the right emotions in you, at the right time it's played. Making contributions are Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill and singer of the moment Damien Rice's Cannonball.Dennis Quaid is one of my favourite character actors, though I must add that this is the first movie I've seen him in since "Frequency". His Dan brings about the everyday man whom I can probably identify with, when I'm 50. Topher Grace shines with his role of Carter, the inexperience of youth being thrusted into the limelight and given heavy responsibilities. He tries to impress his new team with his can-do attitude, his enthusiasm for his job, but scores zero on his personal life (hmm.. kinda like me, now). Heck he even crashes his new Porsche when he leaves the showroom! And Scarlett Johansson is an angel - showing vulnerability as a coming of age teenager who has to decide whether to pursue her love for Carter, or to realize the sacrifices her dad made to put her in varsity, and to pursue her studies.This show has a little something for everyone, and I'm sure you'll find that the contemporary themes do ring a familiar bell in your life. My review above might seem a little heavy, but hey, I'm over-analysing, so no worries, go catch this one!
Great Non-Mainstream Movie That Happens To Be Mainstream
posted on 13 Mar 2009It is extremely rare when a movie made and produced by a major studio such as Universal can feel and entertain like an independent film. Relatively, of course; while there are definite Hollywood influences, compared to most of the crap that Hollywood puts out now, this film has a very non-mainstream feel to it. "In Good Company" tells the story of three people living in New York City and its suburbs. Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid) is the head of ad sales at Sports America, one of the most prominent sports magazines in the country, and he has been happily employed there for about 30 years. Everything suddenly changes when the publishing company that owns Sports America is bought out by the super-corporation Globecom, run by the eccentric Teddie K (an uncredited Malcolm McDowell), and soon, the 51-year-old Dan is demoted. His replacement is the 26-year-old Carter Duryea (Topher Grace), an up-and-coming hot-shot who, while being a very nice guy, has no idea how to run an ad department. The third member of the movie's trio is Alex Foreman (Scarlett Johansson), who has just transferred to NYU to pursue a degree in creative writing. So at first, Dan obviously harbors a lot of animosity towards Carter. Carter, however, looks up to Dan, despite the fact that he is Dan's boss, for not only does Dan know what he's doing, but Dan has "the perfect life" according to Carter (sadly for Carter, his wife of seven months, Kimberly (Selma Blair) has just left him- possibly for the second time). Dan has a loving wife (Marg Helgenberger), two beautiful daughters (the other played by Zena Grey), and a third child on the way. After Carter is able to get himself invited over for dinner, he and Alex begin a romantic relationship, and for the first time in his life, Carter may be truly happy. The movie told a great story about corporations; while it never really called them evil, it did point out a lot of their shortcomings in comic ways. I'm pretty sure that the CEO, Teddie K, is a caricature of the CEO of Virgin, and there is something he says that is probably one of the greatest jab at corporations in the movie, but it is very subtle (it may have even been an unintentional joke). It dealt with selling sodas on all seven continents simultaneously (even Anctarctica!). However, I was surprised that a movie seemingly about the dangers of corporations had so many corporate sponsorships (Dominoe's and Pepsi were even mentioned by name). Lately, there have been way too many comedies that have had no heart. In "In Good Company", you actually care about the characters, even when you are laughing with/at them, and believe me, there is a LOT to laugh about. Furthermore, while all the actors in this movie do a great job, the three lead actors are astounding. Grace and Quaid play extremely well each other, both when they are at odds as well as when they are friends. The young Johansson keeps continuing to amaze me with both her talent and her beauty. I can hardly believe that this girl is barely 20 years old (just about 2 years older than I am); both her acting ability and her appearance are a lot more mature than the average actress her age, which tends to be the over-surplussed "teen queen" (note to Ms. Johansson if you are reading this, not likely, though): this is a compliment, and I'm sure you appreciate the benefits of not being part of that category). As I said at the beginning of the review, this film had a very independent feel to it. Unlike most mainstream movies, I was unable to predict the direction in which this film went, and I was very satisfied by the ending, which was definitely not a typical "Hollywood ending". That's not to say that there weren't a few moments that felt a little contrived, but the majority of the film more than made up for the few instances of corn.
An utterly charming drama-flick
posted on 03 Mar 2009IN GOOD COMPANY may not be the movie you'll watch at a party or anything, cause it's neither hilarious or exciting in any way. This is a movie that's got a heart and fills the empty spaces with fine performances from each actor, it's especially a delight watching Dennis Quaid back in top-form. Scarlett Johanssen plays his daughter, finding a romance with his new boss, who's surprisingly 25 years younger than her dad.IN GOOD COMPANY finds the sweetness coming to form and let's the actors and mood make the whole picture. The best bits finds Quaid doing comedy and the many pieces of sweetness painting a realistic picture. IN GOOD COMPANY is a feel-good movie that's got a serious and funny edge to it, and by many norms one of the best in that genre in quite a while.
plot seemed more like a TV movie
posted on 23 Feb 2009I thought the acting was good and liked Quaid and Johnassan in this, but I just thought the plot was boring. I felt like I was watching the TV movie of the week. It is about a middle age guy, Dan, who gets demoted. His new boss, Carter, is in his mid-20s and has no experience. He is going through a divorce and starts dating Alex, Dan's daughter. Carter shakes up the department and wants to start firing people and Dan is trying to hang on to his job. And that's basically the story. I didn't really care to see nearly 2 hours of this since not a whole lot of excitement happens. And I don't know if it was supposed to be part comedy, but it wasn't funny.FINAL VERDICT: I thought it was too long for this type of story. I would have liked more to happen.
Excellent acting, funny, touching
posted on 19 Feb 2009I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and it seemed like most of the sold-out theater I saw it in did as well. Contrary to some of the other user comments, I wasn't bored at all. I thought the movie served as a nice "slice of life" comedy that was sincere and unforced. The laughs were genuine and not in the "hijinks" vein so common in comedies today. At the same time, the movie was thoughtful and touching, in particular the relationship between father and daughter. As someone in her mid-20's, I especially identified with Carter's search to find meaningful career and personal goals, and Alex's evolving relationship with her father.The acting throughout is excellent. Topher Grace especially shines as disaffected 26 year old Carter (not to mention that he has grown up quite nicely), and Dennis Quaid subtly conveys middle-age weariness. Scarlett Johannsen seemed very young, and wasn't quite as good as in Lost In Translation or A Love Song for Bobby Long.Overall, I found the movie to be excellent and worth seeing in the theater again.
hackneyed humor. Little chemistry
posted on 28 Jan 2009Though I hadn't spoken to anyone who'd seen this, the ratings were pretty favorable. I also had enjoyed About a Boy, which Paul Weitz also directed. Unfortunately, this thing is a stinker.The writing is uncreative and the attempts at comedy hackneyed and forced. There is no chemistry between Topher Grace and Scarlett Johansen and in all but one scene, I did not buy that Dennis Quaid was her father.As far as Ms. Johansson goes, I'm surprised she's lasted beyond flavor of the week. Sure, she's pretty and sweet, and has a cool name, but she's also extremely limited and bland. She plays every role the same. If she'd died after Ghost World, she'd have been a minor cult figure. Now, she's just boring.Other irritations in this movie: too many montages, too many utterances of the word "awesome".
Surprised by Scarlett Johansson
posted on 16 Jan 2009This quirky little movie has its good points, especially including Topher Grace whose boyish charm and eyes filled with devilment are reminiscent of the early Hugh Grant without the English accent. Not sure there's a male equivalent of "starlet," an actor who's got promise and may or may not rise to stardom, but that's the category into which Topher Grace fits. For me, however, the surprise in this movie was Scarlett Johansson. Having seen her in two other roles -- Vermeer's model in "The Girl with the Golden Earring" and the lonely young woman whom lonely Bill Murray meets in Tokyo in "Lost in Translation" -- I would not have thought of her as right for a role as a young American college student who is collegiate in every sense of that word. However, she IS that youngster in this movie, and I found the story of her relationship with the Topher Grace character rather more interesting than the main story line: the young hotshot (Grace) installed as the boss of a man twice his age (Dennis Quaid), who also happens to be the girl's father. Johansson's college girl is supposed to be a tennis champion, a potential pro who gives up tennis to study creative writing, and that part of it is not, not, not well done. But that's the director's fault, not Johansson's. Few actors or actresses can convincing portray athletes without the help of camera angles and doubles who can actually do what the character is supposedly able to do. That aside, Johansson is quite good. I don't know why I should be surprised, but I was. I'm not yet ready to see a movie BECAUSE she's in it but this role convinced me that she's got some talent (in addition to being nice to look at).
Neat little sleeper
posted on 10 Jan 2009With Scarlett Johansson in the cast, I couldn't help but consider IN GOOD COMPANY in light of her breakout film last year, LOST IN TRANSLATION. I didn't like TRANSLATION at all (even if Ms Johansson was lovely in it), and couldn't understand why it managed to generate the extraordinary buzz that it did.Now, here she is in COMPANY, and I'm frustrated even more, this time because this film was largely ignored when it was released late in 2004. This is a gem of a movie. The situation is largely believable, and the characters are full and human. I particularly liked the first hour of the movie, where the story struck a wonderful balance between Topher Grace's Carter Duryea and Dennis Quaid's Dan Foreman. Despite their antagonistic positions, both are very sympathetic; nice trick. (A side note--it's REALLY nice to see Dennis Quaid working again, especially when he's getting such a great character to play with) And, yes, Scarlett Johansson is WONDERFUL. At times gawky, at times graceful, she is a wonderful presence in this film. A brief confrontation between Alex and Dan late in the film is utterly convincing.Yes, the story meanders a bit, but so does life at times. A good movie can get away with it. Yes, the ending is too tidy, but it's not so bad that it ruins the effect. IN GOOD COMPANY is a very good comedy about men. Works for me.
Topher saves the day.
posted on 02 Jan 2009In Good Company is a good movie, but not a great one. Paul Weitz has done better work than this before, namely About a Boy, although the success of that film could be attributed to Nick Hornby's hysterical source novel. After a corporate takeover, Topher Grace takes over Dennis Quaid's job and makes him second in command. Topher also begins to date Scarlett Johansen, Quaid's daughter, without Quaid knowing it. Various plot threads are eventually woven together at the end of the film for maximum audience pleasure. Topher Grace is funny, Dennis Quaid sleepwalks, and Scarlett Johannsen takes up space. More melodrama than comedy, the film lacks focus. As a romantic comedy it's passable, but as a satiric jab at corporate America it's slightly more clever and inspired.
actually quite lightweight in emotional terms
posted on 26 Aug 2009This is the worst movie I've seen since dumb and dumberer. There was no plot and just when it seemed that there was one, it was interrupted by another subplot that was terrible. This was without a doubt the worst movie that can be released in 2005. And the name Teddy k? What is this a mafia don that thinks he is a rapper? And why were the basketball game scene and the terribly written "love making" scene even added. About half way through this thing I began to create my own movie in my head and I can promise it would have been better than this. And finally the ending is probably the stupidest thing I've ever seen in a movie because it resolves nothing except for "carter's" unwillingness to run outside.This movie is actually quite lightweight in emotional terms. In dramatic terms, it also never rings true.