In Good Company

The American dream is not what it used to be. In the age of mega-corporations, takeover bids and downsizing, nothing is as sure as uncertainty. In many cases, itís the old guard vs. the new turks, and this is the world we become privy to in writer/director Paul Weitzís new film.

Dennis Quaid plays the every-salesman, Dan Foreman, who has put in many years getting to his position of semi-power. He has a nice home, a lovely wife and daughter, but it is all about to be turned on its ear thanks to a buyout that will force him to answer to a 26 year old hotshot with plenty of drive and no experience.

Topher Grace, of ìThat Seventies Show,î is ìawesomeî as the workaholic Carter Duryea. He does a perfect job portraying the career-obsessed twenty-somethingís penchant for materialism.

Every scene rings true and has something to say about people in this country who work hard and play hard, but still have to struggle. Scarlett Johansson adds another fine character to her growing list of performances as Quaidís daughter Alex Foreman. Sheís daddyís little girl who is growing up fast.

I liked the way this film touched on a variety of concerns that face families and people just starting to enter the world of responsibility without knocking you over the head. Itís light entertainment on one level, but very smart and touching on another.

I wonít recount the twists and turns here since thatís part of what makes this movie work. I will say there are many supporting cast members who help the story along in fine fashion. David Payner as Morty, the nice shlub who, along with everyone else fears getting the ax, is great. Marg Helgenberger as Quaidís wife, Ann is also fun to watch. Malcolm McDowell has a small part as the ominous, all-seeing Teddy K., the newly bought companyís owner.

The best stories have a message to impart, and the message here is that people are not pawns. This will not, of course, change the way things work in the world, but it is good to see this angle given screen time.

Mostly, this is a common tale about the way things have changed from when Willie Loman did his thing. Some of the factors are the same. It just seems a lot more dicey these days.

The movie does not give easy answers. Instead it provokes real questions about the future of the working stiff and big businesses place in the peopleís lives who make the machine go.