As a person who makes a living from the Internet, I for one was happy to see the spectacular boom of the late '90s. Although I unfortunately didn't get to cash in on any lucrative stock options, all of that venture capital trickling down certainly helped the bottom line. Such over-inflated stock prices, however, clearly helped lead to the bursting of the proverbial bubble.
Yet, some of the blame also has to be pointed at the influx of young and inexperienced "executives" who ran their companies into the ground and/or replaced more senior staff members who knew what they were doing, but were considered dinosaurs by those with the money.
While not about the Internet per se, "In Good Company" addresses some of those very issues as well as other corporate blunders and cut-throat business mentality. While not exactly a scathing satire or even the second coming of "Office Space" (a film that keeps growing on me), the effort is generally pleasing if nothing spectacular, and features strong performances from its two leads.
Which really shouldn't come as a surprise considering that writer/director Paul Weitz previously helmed another male, cross-generational character study in "About a Boy." That film, which is superior to this offering in most every way -- especially in regards to making an emotional connection with its viewers -- focused on a single, thirty-something playboy, a troubled boy and their unique friendship.
In this film, Weitz moves the ages up a generation with Dennis Quaid ("Flight of the Phoenix," "The Rookie") playing a fifty-something career executive who's suddenly replaced by a know-it-all whippersnapper half his age embodied by Topher Grace ("Win a Date With Tad Hamilton!" TV's "That '70s Show").
Looks, of course, can be deceiving and the youngster's life is anything but idyllic. His wife -- Selma Blair ("Hellboy," "A Guy Thing") in a small supporting role -- has left him, he's unsure of himself in his new position (for which he has no direct experience), and his staff (or what's left of them after rounds of firing) quietly dislike him. For the "old timer," he can't quit because his wife is now suddenly pregnant and his oldest daughter has just enrolled in a pricey college in the city.
And so the two men try to get along and do their jobs, with neither comfortable with the situation or each other. While Weitz doesn't milk the situation and premise for all of its comedic and dramatic potential, he seems to think there isn't enough said material present to propel or at least support the film.
Accordingly, the filmmaker thus inserts a subplot where the young executive starts secretly dating his new subordinate's oldest daughter, embodied by Scarlett Johansson ("Lost in Translation," "Ghost World"), on the side. While I found that inclusion unnecessary, such a setup is obviously rife with additional comedic and dramatic potential. Unfortunately, Weitz isn't any more successful with that than he is with the original material, and probably even less so.
True, there's all of the sneaking around and related deception, as well as the eventual revelation. Yet, the material never really clicks, doesn't add any truly memorable or even decent laughs (farcical -- in terms of close calls and other physical comedy -- or not), or even do much to expand upon the initial dramatic conflict (that is, beyond the aftermath of the discovery of said relationship).
Although all of those plot elements never really take off, Weitz manages to get in some decent to occasionally funny lines of dialogue, not to mention performances from his leads.
Proving that he still has what it takes if given the right material, Quaid is fabulous in the role. Perfectly capturing the unexpected turmoil of his character's business and personal lives, he hits all of the right notes without much apparent effort and thankfully no histrionics. With a better script, this potentially could have been some award-worthy work. Nevertheless, it's still quite good.
Matching him note for note is Grace. While his could have a performance filled with stereotypes, he thankfully dances around them, creating an engaging character who's a victim of his own far too quick success and inexperience. His first meeting with his staff -- where he's sweating bullets since he doesn't know what he's doing but manages to pull another trick from his hat -- is priceless and shows a range of characteristics that make him far more than just a one-note creation.
Johansson is decent in that subplot role (although the script weakness prevents her from doing anything special with the part), while the always rascally Malcolm McDowell ("Time After Time," "A Clockwork Orange") briefly appears as the corporate executive who's the main culprit behind all of this personal and professional turmoil. The likes of Marg Helgenberger, David Paymer, Clark Gregg and Philip Baker Hall flesh out other supporting characters and while decent, aren't anything remarkable (not that they're intended to be that way).
I certainly wasn't blown away at any time by the film, but I have to say I never felt bored or disengaged. While it's clearly not in the same league as Weitz's last effort, it's decent enough to earn a slight recommendation. Accordingly, "In Good Company" rates as a 5.5 out of 10.
![[Logo]](/images/screenit_logo2.jpg){kind=logo}
