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In Good Company (2005) DVD Review
In Good Company (2005) DVD Credits:
In Good Company (2005) Directed by:
Paul Weitz
In Good Company (2005) Written by:
Paul Weitz
In Good Company (2005) Cast:
Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, Scarlett Johansson, Marg Helgenberger, David Paymer, Clark Gregg, Philip Hall, Selma Blair, Frankie Faison, Ty Burrell
In Good Company (2005) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
In Good Company (2005) DVD Release Date:
1st January 2006
Our Rating: Extras Rating:

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In Good Company (2005) Synopsis:

Dan Foreman is headed for a shakeup. He is demoted from head of ad sales for a major magazine when the company he works for is acquired in a corporate takeover. His new boss, Carter Duryea, is half his age--a business school prodigy who preaches corporate synergy. While Dan develops clients through handshake deals and relationships, Carter cross-promotes the magazine with the cell phone division and "Krispity Krunch", an indeterminate snack food under the same corporate umbrella. Both men are going through turmoil at home. Dan has two daughters, Alex, age 18, and Jana, age 16, and is shocked when his wife tells him she's pregnant with a new child. Carter, in the meanwhile, is dumped by his wife of seven months just as he gets his promotion. Dan and Carter's uneasy friendship is thrown into jeopardy when Carter falls for, and begins an affair with, Dan's daughter Alex.

In Good Company (2005) 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.

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In Good Company (2005) DVD review written by: Ryan Izay

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