MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Company’ shows good camaraderie
Grade: A-
It seems that films like this are continually becoming a rarity in American cinema. But it is understandable that a comedy which pinpoints current themes of business, family, romance, capitalism and generational differences is quite a difficult balancing act for any filmmaker to accomplish. Fortunately, “In Good Company” creates this balancing act with subtle ease and simplicity. Watching this film seemed almost foreign to me, due to the absence of sexual content, pervasive language and graphic violence. Once I left the theater, however, I felt like I learned more about the concepts of family, business, and the other common ambitions we have in life. You know that a film has done its job well when you learn something from it.
“In Good Company” takes us into the life of Dan Foreman (played with great realism by Dennis Quaid), a sales executive who is confronted with sudden changes in his professional and personal life. The most notable change is Carter Duryea (played by newcomer Topher Grace), the hopeful young boss who is sent to replace Quaid’s character as the new sales leader in charge of a popular magazine. This situation of the fresh, youthful employee taking over the competent veteran provides many conversations about age differences and generation gaps.
Most of the comedy is derived from these themes. As Quaid exudes confidence and candor, Grace stumbles along with the awkward poise of a 12-year-old. They both realize they have a lot to learn from each other and a father and son relationship slowly develops. Without a doubt, “In Good Company” is the breakthrough performance for Grace who shines throughout the entire film. His comedic talent is shown not only through bumbling line delivery but also through his attempted moments of triumphant coolness, which only end in disaster.
The film is wonderful with Quaid and Grace playing the headlining roles but the supporting cast adds even more delight. Marg Helgenberger (“CSI”) as Quaid’s loving wife, and Scarlett Johansson (“Lost In Translation”) as Quaid’s headstrong daughter, both give incredibly smooth performances. The females contribute plenty of heart and emotion to the story as we see the love between Quaid and Helgenberger endure.
The depth of the film increases primarily due to the potential romance that blossoms between Quaid’s youthful daughter and his equally youthful employer. The flirtation between Grace and Johansson is lovely, although the conclusion of the film is far from what I expected.
Ultimately, “In Good Company” is a funny, heartwarming story of how love can complicate things in a family and complicate things even further in the workplace. Quaid learns to adjust through the changes of his life and strengthens the relationships in his family, and office, as a result. Written and directed by Paul Weitz (“American Pie”, “About a Boy”), “In Good Company” is definitely his best work to date. The screenplay is so simple that the dialogue seems perfectly natural for the characters. Because of this realistic dialogue, there are no enormous waves of poignant thought or eloquent expression. Nevertheless this makes the characters incredibly likable and the audience can easily identify with them.
This film is filled with unexpected surprises, which may be disappointing to some viewers, but “In Good Company” displays unflinching realism and helps us remember that life doesn’t usually turn out the way you plan it. The intimidating operations of corporate America, the humor & heart we can use to adjust to difficult changes, and the love of family and friends (no matter what the age difference) are the strong themes of the story. This is a great film for couples but most especially for those of the older generation.
Casey T. Allan is a junior majoring in professional and technical writing and reviews movies for the Statesman. Comments may be sent to caseyal@cc.usu.edu