Movie Review

In Good Company

In Good Company opens January 14 and is a comedy that stars Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid, and Scarlett Johanson. It?s opening just about in the same release date that Topher?s Win a Date with Tad Hamilton was positioned in last year, and the movie suffers from similar problems. What?s both surprising and disappointing is that this movie is helmed by Paul Weitz, who directed American Pie (B) and About a Boy (B+) ? two well executed comedies ? and he butchered this. However, after returning home from the screening I realized he also directed Down to Earth (C); and while this isn?t as dumb as that fish-out-of-water comedy, it?s not far from that territory.

The movie is about a middle-aged executive (Dennis Quaid) whose new boss is a 26-year old (Topher Grace). Carter, the 26-year old, is terrified of the management position, as he is the youngest person in this business by far and he fears that he may not live up to potential. At first, Dan (Quaid) is taken aback by this kid?s age and lack of experience, but soon the two develop a rather close father-son-like relationship, as Dan takes him under his wing as a mentor. However, matters get complicated when the lonely Carter (he was just divorced) takes a liking in Dan?s daughter, Alex (Scarlett Johanson), and they hide their relationship from Dan in fear of his response.

While In Good Company has its few moments of comedy that work, that?s about all it has. Too often the movie feels like a sitcom with scenes that are written very broadly, and the only difference being the lack of a laugh track filling in where it ?supposedly? is funny. It doesn?t help that Weitz? direction is bland, as he relies on a desperate acoustic guitar soundtrack that resonates throughout the flick (a hint that not much is going on) and over scene transitions to fill in very empty gaps. His cinematography is also very simplistic and that makes various scenes really boring (especially when some are really insignificant).

I?m a believer in that Topher Grace is a good actor if handed the right material, and the best evidence for that is Traffic. While Topher might not be as good-looking as Ashton Kutcher (which is inarguably part of the reason for Ashton?s success), I think Grace has stronger potential as an actor ? he just needs to find his home. He does decently here, but I also thought he did decently in Tad Hamilton. The scripts in both cases are just too broad but he makes the best out of the cheese-ball lines he?s given, which goes to say something.

Some might wonder if Scarlett Johanson is any good in this movie considering Lost in Translation, and here she is fairly forgettable. Her character is underdeveloped, and like Topher she does decently anyway, but this role could?ve been given to any unknown actress. There?s even a subplot involving her character and Quaid?s about her college situation, and it?s basically pointless, and yet their acting saves that boat despite that their performances are not too impressive either. I haven?t seen The Perfect Score, but I wouldn?t doubt any comparisons between her performances in these two movies.

Some of the comedy revolves around the age difference between Carter and the other workers at the business, and his awkwardness in trying to be a professional. I was looking forward to hopefully witty banter between the two leads, as the thought of Topher as Quaid?s boss I have to say was amusing to me beforehand. Unfortunately the script only offers obvious (and easy) jokes on the matter, and to call some of them ?jokes? is even questionable. Like I said, much of this story revolves around sitcom moments, geared toward a demographic that is pleased with terribly light material.

Perhaps the screenwriting job should?ve gone to Adam Herz (instead of Weitz), who wrote the American Pie?s, but then again he hasn?t proved that he can be funny outside of R-ratings (this movie is only PG-13). The fact that In Good Company is debuting in January was probably a warning before I headed into this screening (January to March is generally a dumping ground for studios), but I had faith in the talent behind it. But alas, this is one mediocre movie with only a few laughs, and like Tad Hamilton it is likely to see a short theater run.

Lee's Grade: C+
Ranked #72 of 120 between 50 First Dates (#71) and Seed of Chucky (#73) for 2004 movies.

A	0.4%
B	30.0%
C	61.7%
D	8.0%
F	0.0%