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Craig Younkin
Movie Review
In Good Company
By Craig Younkin Published January 15, 2005
US Release: December 29, 2004
Directed by: Paul Weitz
Starring: Dennis Quaid , Topher Grace , Scarlett Johansson , Selma Blair
PG-13
Running Time: 110 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $45,489,752
Directed by: Paul Weitz
Starring: Dennis Quaid , Topher Grace , Scarlett Johansson , Selma Blair
PG-13
Running Time: 110 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $45,489,752
B
Director Paul Weitz has come a long way since American Pie and Down to Earth, developing a few laugh out loud scenes and an overall aura of sweetness.
Dan (Dennis Quaid) is a 51-year old ad salesman whose whole department is under renovation after a corporate takeover. He is saddled with the unfortunate task of taking a pay cut and becoming the wing man to a 26-year old boss named Carter (Topher Grace). That?s not the best news in the world, considering he is about to have another baby and his daughter wants to go to NYU. Carter is a hard worker with an MBA, known primarily for his work on creating cell phones for tots.
It's this ingenious idea that sends him straight to the top even though he knows nothing about selling, and at best, has very few people skills. His workaholic ways have led to a divorce from his own wife, and so, lonely and desperate, he clings on to Dan for support and friendship even as he is being forced to fire many of the people who have worked with Dan for years. A relationship also blooms between Carter and Dan's daughter (Scarlett Johansson), which only make matters worse for Dan.
It's hard to find a movie at this time of the year in which you can really just turn off your brain and relax. You either find an Oscar caliber movie that requires full attention or it's some God-awful looking ghost story like "White Noise" that feels like it's clawing at your brain. And that's what makes "In Good Company" feel like such a treasure ? this is one of the most flat out enjoyable movies of 2004. But it does have a few problems. The first twenty minutes are nothing but plot setup and the jokes are pretty lame. And the movie finishes with three or four endings when one would have sufficed. But the rest of it works wonderfully.
Director Paul Weitz proves that he has come a long way since "American Pie" and "Down to Earth,? but isn?t nearly as far from his "About a Boy,? developing a few laugh out loud scenes and an overall aura of sweetness. From the romance between Topher Grace and Scarlett Johansson to the story of how the young can learn from the old, the movie is a cute and endearing diversion.
The movie is also very well acted by its three leads. Many have predicted Topher Grace to be the next Tom Hanks, and in this film I'm finally starting to understand what they are talking about. The guy has a goofy charm and a self deprecating sense of humor that make him not just a good leading man but also a ?man/child? comic presence in the same mold as a Ben Stiller or a young Tom Hanks. I didn't see his first feature film, "Win a Date With Tad Hamilton,? but his showing here definitely makes me want to check it out.
I'm also glad to see that Dennis Quaid's foray into bad films (?Cold Creek Manor,? ?Day After Tomorrow?) has stopped at two and he is back on track. His performance as a man who is quickly losing his hold on everything in life is compelling and at times very funny. And Scarlett Johannson, who seems to be in every other film coming out this year, seems to be playing a less meatier role than she is regularly used to, but she and Grace make for a nice pairing and she handles her scenes with Quaid very well.
If you?re looking for a date movie, bring someone you like and cuddle up. I sadly don't have a girlfriend so all I cuddled up to was a coat, but I digress. This is a good movie, not an Oscar worthy film but it also isn?t crap, and at this time of the year a good movie is a very needed thing. In Good Company isn't just a clever title, it's also a pretty good description.
It's this ingenious idea that sends him straight to the top even though he knows nothing about selling, and at best, has very few people skills. His workaholic ways have led to a divorce from his own wife, and so, lonely and desperate, he clings on to Dan for support and friendship even as he is being forced to fire many of the people who have worked with Dan for years. A relationship also blooms between Carter and Dan's daughter (Scarlett Johansson), which only make matters worse for Dan.
It's hard to find a movie at this time of the year in which you can really just turn off your brain and relax. You either find an Oscar caliber movie that requires full attention or it's some God-awful looking ghost story like "White Noise" that feels like it's clawing at your brain. And that's what makes "In Good Company" feel like such a treasure ? this is one of the most flat out enjoyable movies of 2004. But it does have a few problems. The first twenty minutes are nothing but plot setup and the jokes are pretty lame. And the movie finishes with three or four endings when one would have sufficed. But the rest of it works wonderfully.
Director Paul Weitz proves that he has come a long way since "American Pie" and "Down to Earth,? but isn?t nearly as far from his "About a Boy,? developing a few laugh out loud scenes and an overall aura of sweetness. From the romance between Topher Grace and Scarlett Johansson to the story of how the young can learn from the old, the movie is a cute and endearing diversion.
The movie is also very well acted by its three leads. Many have predicted Topher Grace to be the next Tom Hanks, and in this film I'm finally starting to understand what they are talking about. The guy has a goofy charm and a self deprecating sense of humor that make him not just a good leading man but also a ?man/child? comic presence in the same mold as a Ben Stiller or a young Tom Hanks. I didn't see his first feature film, "Win a Date With Tad Hamilton,? but his showing here definitely makes me want to check it out.
I'm also glad to see that Dennis Quaid's foray into bad films (?Cold Creek Manor,? ?Day After Tomorrow?) has stopped at two and he is back on track. His performance as a man who is quickly losing his hold on everything in life is compelling and at times very funny. And Scarlett Johannson, who seems to be in every other film coming out this year, seems to be playing a less meatier role than she is regularly used to, but she and Grace make for a nice pairing and she handles her scenes with Quaid very well.
If you?re looking for a date movie, bring someone you like and cuddle up. I sadly don't have a girlfriend so all I cuddled up to was a coat, but I digress. This is a good movie, not an Oscar worthy film but it also isn?t crap, and at this time of the year a good movie is a very needed thing. In Good Company isn't just a clever title, it's also a pretty good description.
Craig's Grade: B
Craig's Overall Grading: 340 graded movies
| A | 10.9% | |
| B | 41.8% | |
| C | 31.8% | |
| D | 15.3% | |
| F | 0.3% |
'In Good Company' Articles
- Lee's review C+
December 6, 2004 This is one mediocre movie with only a few laughs, and like Tad Hamilton it is likely to see a short theater run. -- Lee Tistaert
