In Good Company DVD Review:

The trailer to In Good Company made the film look like a romantic comedy, when it was in fact a much deeper film about the business world, with only a subplot dealing with romance. Slightly put off by the deceptive advertising, I wasn’t quite sure what to think of In Good Company the first time I saw it, but watching it again on DVD I am able to appreciate what a well made, thought provoking, and genuinely sweet story it is. With a cast as incredible as the film has it is surprising that this film did not become hugely popular, but instead is one of my favorite sleeper hits from last year.

Dennis Quaid plays Dan Foreman, a man who could easily represent many fathers across the world, working in the advertising department of a sports magazine. We join Dan on a morning that starts like any other, but when he hears news of a merger, then finds a pregnancy test box in the trash, his life at home and at the office suddenly changes. A young executive, Carter Duryea, who is half his age is brought in to take over Dan’s job. Dan is demoted and forced to work with Carter as many of his friends are fired. At the same time Carter, played by a shockingly good Topher Grace, is becoming incredibly successful at his work, while losing control of his marriage. When Carter’s wife leaves him, he struggles with loneliness, forcing employees to come in to work on their day off in order to deal with it.

What makes In Good Company so diverse is the many relationships which each receive a great deal of loving attention from writer/director Paul Weitz. The relationship between Dan and his wife as they adjust to the changes in their lives is humorous and sincere while Dan’s relationship with his college age daughter Alex (Scarlett Johansson) is honestly paranoia filled while still completely sweet. On the flip side we watch the dysfunctional relationship Carter has with his wife, and when that ends he makes the mistake of starting a relationship with Alex behind Dan’s back. All of these relationships are fantastic, but nothing compares to the banter back and forth between Dan and Carter. As they form a relationship, although not always pleasant, there is a sense of respect growing between the two of them, although they don’t let down their guard easily. Quaid and Grace make an incredible pair, playing off of each other each moment they are on screen, even without the need of dialogue.

This film examines the way that our culture seemingly allows the young to swallow the old, replacing them for no other reason than their age. While Carter’s character comes in with what seem like great ideas, we soon find that his cockiness doesn’t match with Dan’s integrity and honesty. There is a stark message being sent by this film, and yet the propaganda is not overwhelming because ultimately this is a film about characters and relationships. There is no big picture involved, but rather just the outcome that a merger has on one man’s life.

Technically speaking, In Good Company could not be much better. Everything from the production design to the costuming is fitting for the film, which is a tender story. One of the best choices that they made when putting together a team for this film was choosing Stephen Trask to do the score. Blending perfectly with the comedy and drama, the score is mixed in with an amazing soundtrack of songs from some artists who seem to be making the rounds in films like these lately.

The DVD has a number of deleted scenes, some of which are humorous, all of which are worth watching, as well as a number of short featurettes examining everything from the actors to the locations. A few of them even go into the world of actual people holding the jobs portrayed in the film. By far the best special feature is a commentary track by director Paul Weitz and actor Topher Grace. Surprisingly Weitz proves to be the louder and more humorous of the two, while at the same time providing great insight to where many ideas came from.

Understanding that life is not all drama nor all comedy, In Good Company is a wonderful blend of both. With some of the best screen acting of 2004, although far more subtle than any dramatic performance, this film is to be cherished and watched numerous times.



Ryan Izay

Dan Foreman (Quaid) has been selling advertising space in America’s most popular sports magazine for twenty-three years and was on top of his game but when Globecom buy the publication, they plan to make some changes. Firstly Dan now has a new boss, up and coming salesman Carter Duryea (Grace) who just happens to be young enough to be his son but is filled with ideas and a remit to slim the sales team down.

Films that look at the everyday lives of normal human beings can draw you in and make you invest in the characters. ‘In Good Company’ is one of those movies.

Real human drama and the funny things in life are elements that can make you instantly connect with a group of characters and their situation. Without any larger than life situations, characters that you are never going to meet or outlandish special effects, this is the kind of movie everyone needs to see every now and again, as its subject is the human condition. Posing the questions ‘Am I told old to start again?’, ‘Is this the right career for me?’, ‘Should I leave the comforts of home?’ and ‘Am I doing the right thing?’, ‘In Good Company’ asks questions that everyone has pondered or will ponder sometime in their lives.

Here we have a life long career man, working hard to provide for his family and an excellent salesman. We also have an achiever, climbing the corporate ladder at an accelerated pace as he has been earmarked for success. In the middle we have a young woman about to start her life by leaving the nest and entering adulthood. This trio’s stories become intertwined, driving each of their presents and defining their futures.

Once one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, Dennis Quaid’s career is enjoying abit of a renaissance. The role of Dan Foreman, takes him away from the glut of blockbuster leading men he has been associated with lately and makes him the ordinary man. This is a part that showcases Quaid’s quality as a character actor, who brings realism and a hint of comedy, to a man who has to cope with change. As his career and home life are turned upside down, Quaid makes the character believeable and easy to connect with.

Raising star Topher Grace might just be leaving his TV career behind him and becoming a major big screen star. As Globecom hotshot Carter Duryea, he creates a driven young man with many flaws as quite a lot is missing from his life, but he hasn’t realised this yet. This is a role that he excels in, making Carter’s drive very visible but exposing his vulnerabilities at the same time.

Scarlett Johansson continues to prove that she is one of the best young actresses in Hollywood at the moment. As Alex, Dan’s eldest daughter, she is just starting out in her adult life as she leaves home and heads off to college. Her naturalist acting style really suits the role and makes the character more real and easy to connect with. Alex has a lot to experience and Scarlet portrays her with an air of innocence and determination that make her instantly appealing.

At is essence the film is a human comedy/drama with a message about the growth of big corporations and how it affects the ordinary men and women who get caught up in mergers and takeovers. Taking a swipe the corporate giants led by very public media moguls, this part of the story plays second fiddle to human drama but does push the film in the right direction.

‘In Good Company’ is a film that is it impossible not to like. A well-written script is complemented by three excellent performances from the leads and a supporting cast that helps them all the way. It is hard not to connect with this movie in some way as the characters and the plot draw you in from the start. If you like this you’ll be in good company.

Star Rating = * * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 with a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, transfer is very good.

BONUS FEATURES

Feature commentary with director Paul Weitz and star Topher Grace

This chatty and fun commentary has the director and his star revealing behind the scenes gossip and offering insights into the making of ‘In Good Company’. The pair talks candidly about the plot, with Weitz offering insights into the feeling behind the piece for a writer’s point of view, and Grace revealing his feeling from a character and actor’s prospective. Filming styles, the story and the editing process are also discussed in this fun and informative track.

Featurettes (23.35 mins)

Split into seven parts (which can be viewed separately) entitled ‘Stars’, ‘Youth’, ‘Getting Older’, ‘Real Life’, ‘New York Locations’, ‘Editing’ and ‘Story’, these features cover most aspects of the films production. Director Paul Weitz, executive producers Chris Weitz and Andrew Miano and stars Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, Scarlett Johansson, Marg Helgenberger and David Paymer chat about the characters, story, locations and how they became involved with the project. Writer/director Paul Weitz reveals secrets behind the screenplay and the featurettes also take you behind the scenes of a real Sports magazine and speak to its staff about the validity of the film and its characters.

Deleted Scenes (16.08 mins)

Entitled ‘Int. Airplane Dan, Louie and Morty’, ‘Carter calls wife from hospital’, ‘Dan tells Ann about his demotion’, ‘Dan hears Carter retching after firing Enrique’, ‘Dan Golfs’, ‘Carter talks to co-workers about his wife’, ‘Dan arrives early for the meeting’, ‘Dan dyes hair and it drips during the meeting’, ‘Office phones not working, cell phones not working’ and ‘Dan quits his job’, these deleted or extended scenes have optional commentary by director Paul Weitz.

Cast & Filmmakers

Read text biographies for Dennis Quaid, Scarlett Johansson, Topher Grace, Marg Helgenberger, David Paymer, director Paul Weitz, producer Chris Weitz and executive producers Rodney Liber and Andrew Miano.

OVERALL

The DVD transfer of ‘In Good Company’ is a good one with bonus material that should really please fans. The commentary track is fun and informative, the featurettes cover most aspects of the films production and the deleted scenes are accompanied by a commentary track, which is really a must. The charming, gem of a movie gets the DVD transfer it deserves, as fans will be very happy and it is a good rental for anyone who missed it at the box office.

Jamie Kelwick