By: debbie lynn elias
51 year old Dan Foreman has escaped termination from his job as head ad executive for the magazine Sports America. Good news, right? Wrong. Although Dan retains employment, he gets demoted to act as an assistant to nubie 26 year old Carter Duryea. As if the age difference isn’t enough to make Dan’s head spin, he is also faced with the prospect of playing second fiddle to a boss who has never worked in sales. But Dan’s day gets even better when he gets the startling news that his wife is pregnant. Their last child was born 16 years earlier.
It doesn’t take long before Carter realizes he is in over his head – both professionally and personally. Although he has been fortunate enough to land an amazing job, he has no one to share his success with as his wife of 7 months has left him. Frightened and alone with no one to turn to, Dan half-heartedly extends an invitation to Carter to join his family for dinner. Needless to say, Carter jumps at the invite. And it’s not long before Dan realizes what a mistake it was to have the boss over. It seems that Carter has taken a fancy to Dan’s 18 year old daughter Alex and she to him. Trying to keep their relationship a secret from Dan, Alex and Carter embark on a whirlwind romance, while Dan slowing agonizes over his life.
Written and directed by Paul Weitz, while the film has many good elements, a myriad of flaws often overshadows what could have been an evenly paced flow of comedy and drama. Despite the strength and potential of the main storyline (the crossroads faced by Dan and Carter and the behavioral human reaction of each), Weitz goes off on tangents spending more time on sub-plots instead of cultivating the driving forces behind Dan and Carter which are the main thrust of the story. Sure, attention must be paid to the relationship between Carter and Alex as this fuels much of the story, but not the extent paid by Weitz and certainly not when the entire encounter leaves one with the feeling it was merely dropped into the film as opposed to woven into the story. Weitz also misses the boat in providing core information about the careers of Carter and Dan, the corporate workings of the company, the ad sales position itself, all of which are sorely needed to solidify the film’s intent and meaning.
No fault be found with the cast however. Dennis Quaid as Dan is, as always, stellar. And as comes as no surprise, he carries this film as it ebbs and flows based on his relationships with the various characters. This is probably one of the most emotional multi-dimensional roles he has played since “The Rookie” and he is superb from start to finish. Powerful and engaging with an overriding affability that shines above any inner conflict or adversity. He has a humanness about him, an every man quality and sincerity that anyone can immediately connect with. Topher Grace who made a splash in “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!” clearly demonstrates that he has honed his acting skills even further and not only does he fill the bill of the nervous young executive Carter, his chemistry with Quaid is wonderful. And while he works well with Quaid, his interaction with Scarlett Johansson as Alex is even better. There is an obvious genuine warmth that surfaces from the minute they meet on screen which aids in forgiving Weitz for the unbalanced amount of time spent on their relationship. On the other hand, they are such a joy to see interact, that disappointment is the final feeling when their relationship is never fully brought to fruition. Not to be overlooked is the father-daughter relationship between Quaid and Johansson which only serves to enhance Johansson’s under-developed character. Unfortunately, supporting performances of Marg Helgenberger as Dan’s wife and Selma Blair as Carter’s ex, get lost in the shuffle and are poorly developed and although important to the development of other characters, are forgettable.
Despite its shortcomings, “In Good Company” is a heartfelt film that touches on the elements of human behavior. Easy-going with an easy gentle flow, there is a realism that will connect with us all.
Dan Foreman: Dennis Quaid Carter Duryea: Topher Grace Alex Foreman: Scarlett Johansson
Written and directed by Paul Weitz. Rated PG-13 (110 min)
