People Like Us (2012) User Reviews

Secrets are revealed and it sheds new life on family and the meaning of love.

[blanbrn · 8/10 · 1 July 2012]

Most of us like me have all found out about family secrets in our life, and when they are revealed many years later they surprise us and it does impact and affect our lives. It's so true everyone has skeleton's in their closets. And this touching and heart felt film "People Like Us" relates to all of those issues. It proves that in life a family always have life altering choices to make.

The story which was inspired by true events has Sam(Chris Pine)a grown salesman who one day with his love Hannah(Olivia Wilde)gets a call in New York and the news is bad his record producer dad who he hasn't seen in years has just passed away on the west coast in L.A. Also Sam's mother Lillian(Michelle Pfeiffer)has fallen ill with a heart condition, so he takes a trip to California to have his life turned upside down.

Soon Sam will have revealed that his father had a hidden past life this was in the form of another sibling it's a half sister in Frankie(the sexy Elizabeth Banks). And Frankie who's an outspoken provocative sexy single mother has her hands full raising little one son Josh(Michael Hall). Along the way this triangle comes a bonding of friendship and love even though at times it's a struggle it's life changing for all as it's a money change for Frankie and Josh as this sexy lady can finally leave bar tending and get a good fresh path to a better life. And Sam has dropped everything after the connection so he can start anew with his true love Hannah.

Overall good film of finding out hidden special secrets, it proves love last with family as a new connection that was once secret starts a better life for all. And that's special and important because a loving family connection is ever lasting love.

The thing about family is...Sometimes you have to go the extra mile to understand each other

[KineticSeoul · 8/10 · 14 August 2012]

Now this is a movie that I thoroughly enjoyed watching. Movies like these proves that you don't need crude and obnoxious jokes with nudity and swearing for it to be good. This is an adult movie that approaches things in a touching and yet mature manner. The story in this is about Sam(Chris Pine) getting $150,000 dollars in cash after his fathers death who he loathed. But in his will he wants that money to go to Frankie(Elizabeth Banks) who is his half-sister that he didn't know about until he got his father's will. So he decides to go stalking Frankie and her son and soon chemistry starts to form between them, I guess it's awkward chemistry. Now Sam already has a girlfriend played by Olivia Wilde but the chemistry between Sam and Frankie is just so well written in this to the point I wanted to see more of it. And the fact that they are half-sibling makes things awkward and yet interesting to watch. Elizabeth Banks is still very hot and attractive, random but wanted to throw that in. This movie is mostly about understanding one another since everyone comes from different background no matter how close you are with them. This is a well written emotional drama that maybe predictable in some cases but it's well worth the watch for sure.

8.5/10

Not your typical Romantic Comedy!

[carlin-14 · 8/10 · 25 May 2012]

I really enjoyed seeing this latest movie with Chris Pine. The acting is great, the storyline is well written with adequate character development to let you get emotionally invested. Michelle Pfeiffer gives the level of performance you typically expect from Diane Keaton with empathy and sincerity. Chris Pine as Sam shows he's much more than just a pretty face, but the true scene stealer is Michael Hall D'Addario who plays Josh, the bad-boy son of Elizabeth Banks' character, Frankie. I really enjoyed that it isn't your typical romantic comedy between a man and woman who end up either together or not. Frankie and Sam being sister and brother as the primary love interests give it a very interesting twist but there's also the mother-son sub-plot as well as Sam and Hannah, played by Olivia Wilde. We clapped when the credits rolled, which is rare for a romantic comedy movie.

An Amazing Movie! The BEST Performances of the Year.

[NORTHPOINTMJM · 6 July 2012]

This has to be under everyone's radar and that's a true shame. I can't recommend it enough if you're looking for a truly moving film about fractured families and fractured souls.

I was completely blown away by this movie and by every single performance. If I were an Academy member and I saw this film I would immediately place the names Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks and Michelle Pfeiffer at the very top of my Oscar nominations lists. Honestly, everyone is just that good in these roles especially Banks. Hers is the best performance I've seen this year bar none. The movie itself is so wonderfully written and packs true emotional resonance. The plot may sound cliché but nothing is handled in a predictable or unreal fashion. Secrets are revealed and it sheds new life on family and the meaning of love. To paraphrase: what seems important now really isn't and what's may seem not important now really is… there's a lot to digest about this film. One thing's for sure, if you "lean in to it" and give this movie your time and undivided attention you will not be sorry that you saw it.

A Shot of People on the Rocks, with a Splash of Sentimentality

[Unbilled_Role · 7/10 · 24 June 2012]

"People Like Us" has a fine cast, a fairly stimulating (yet safe) plot, and some heartfelt life lessons thrown in for good measure. The next paragraph contains a gentle spoiler about this films' themes.

A man (Pine) receives some bad news about his family. He needs to do the right thing, grow up, and bust through the defenses he has spent years hiding under. As he makes a reunion of sorts with family members, the plot unfolds. Each character deals with their own personal set of challenges.

I'll confess that I had hesitations about the casting. Pine is cute as-a-button, and I tend to be drawn to actors who are a bit rough around the edges. But I was wrong to doubt his abilities. He layered his role with some interesting nuances. His interactions with the Elizabeth Banks character were entertaining and fairly genuine. The young actor Michael Hall D'Addario was absolutely wonderful. Banks and Pfeiffer each turned in very sturdy performances. Wilde was also effective, but she needed more screen time.

Kudos to the director Alex Kurtzman for his reasonably light touch. It seems like he allowed the actors a long leash in developing their characterizations. This is no easy task, because Kurtzman also co-wrote the script.

The musical score had some strong moments, particularly when they highlighted classic rock tunes from decades ago. There were periodic sentimental tunes, which seemed a bit manipulative. And there was a beach scene which was a bit deflated, because it was so typically pretty. I wish this film would have taken more risks, and navigated through an even murkier emotional landscape.

At the end of the day, I would recommend this, and I look forward to seeing more films from Kurtzman. If you're still with me at this point, I beg your pardon. Uh, bartender... I'll have an extra dry martini with 2 olives, please.

People like us really is different.....also good

[dgefroh · 7/10 · 9 February 2013]

There is something about a movie that is based on actual events that adds a sense of credibility and believability to a truly unusual and entertaining story. When I decided to watch this movie I had no idea what it was about, so I went in with eyes wide open and no preconceptions. I found this to be a surprisingly good movie, while the subject matter is unique, the fact that this situation really happened for me made this more enjoyable.

Bravo to the entire cast for a truly excellent performance, in my opinion the cast of exceptional actors and actresses made this movie a winner.

A pretty heartwarming story

[callanvass · 7/10 · 19 November 2013]

(Credit IMDb) While settling his recently deceased father's estate, a salesman discovers he has a sister whom he never knew about, leading both siblings to re-examine their perceptions about family and life choices. This was one of the most underrated films of 2012. It's a genuinely heartwarming story about redemption and finding yourself. I'm somewhat estranged from a lot of my family, aside from my Dad. I may not have had no contact with my sister like Sam (Chris Pine) does in this movie, but I was easily able to feel sympathy for him. Chris Pine did a really nice job of transforming his character throughout the movie. He plays an arrogant human being for a while, who pushes everyone away, including his love interest (Olivia Wilde) I really enjoyed his changes that he made in the movie. His chemistry with Elizabeth Banks was fantastic. Speaking of Elizabeth Banks, she is just as pivotal as Pine was to making this film as enjoyable as it was. I feel she is one of the most underrated talents in Hollywood. She was natural as a former alcoholic. Olivia Wilde felt a little cold at times, but she did well. If the ending doesn't make you smile, I really question your sanity.

7.8/10

It's People Like All Of Us

[editor-530 · 10/10 · 2 July 2012]

My wife and I saw this film without having any idea of what it is a about. All we knew was some guy's father died and he went through a life decision change. For all we knew that meant he could have become gay (he didn't, and it had nothing to do with that).

This is an adult family film. It's PG-13 rating is not for nudity, swearing, or violence. It is rated that because it is a mature look at dysfunctional family problems. So while little of that is shown, they are referred to through the dialog, thus making it a mature film for teens and up.

From the opening credits of Dreamworks, the artistry of the film was evident. Instead of the usual music for the kid fishing from the moon, we hear conversations in a recording studio. In our opinion, every actor and actress gave outstanding performances. While the topic could have had a heavy handed approach, it did not. It was deftly edited and paced.

In summation, this movie was art because the content was all heart. I have deliberately avoided talking about specifics because I want all viewers to be as surprised as we were in the viewing. I give it a ten, and intend to watch it again.

A Nutshell Review: People Like Us

[DICK STEEL · 6/10 · 20 November 2012]

I haven't seen Chris Pine in a drama before, so this would introduce him to a genre that I cannot fathom him being in, at least not at a time when he's usually in safer, high octane genres such as the romantic comedy, science fiction, and the action adventure. But I suppose an actor relishes the challenge of not being stereotyped into a role, and beyond the pretty boy looks, People Like Us provides an avenue to demonstrate if he has some acting chops, or not.

Chris Pine plays Sam, a barter trade facilitator who, through a series of aggressive deals, finds himself in hot soup when external factors start to throw a spanner into his well oiled operations, and finds himself wanted by the authorities to answer to some dubious dealings, as well as his customers being none too happy about his non delivery on his professional promises. Worse, he gets news that his father just passed away, and while girlfriend Hannah (Olivia Wilde) tries to get them on the first flight out to his family home, he tries his best to sabotage attempts, if only to continue hiding his pain and further his reluctance for reconciliation with family.

But they do get there, and there's where things start to get a little more interesting. We learn how estranged he is with his parents, especially since mom Lillian (Michelle Pfeiffer) greets him with a tight slap, and dad didn't leave him much. To rub salt into the wounds, his dad's last will and testament instructs him to deliver a bag full of money, to the tune of substantial thousands, that he has to give to his half-sister and nephew, people whose existence he has absolutely no idea about. So therein lies the dilemma, whether to be selfish and go against his conscience to embezzle the money, needing it to save his own skin, and since no one's there to check on him, or to do what's right and pass it on.

Curiosity got the better of Sam, and as he turns stalker into the lives of Frankie (Elizabeth Banks) and her oft bullied son Josh (Michael Hall D'Addario) who is the de facto misfit in school. Contact soon gets made, and with his best of intentions to keep his real identity and relations to Frankie and Josh a secret, this blows up quite unexpectedly, bordering on the cusp of near incest as Frankie's emotions start to get the better of her, since she's probably on the lookout for a father figure for her son, which now comes in the form of Sam. It's a little bit morbid to think of it, but I suppose dramas like these love to stretch some limits, especially when secrets got harboured on one side only.

So can Chris Pine do drama? Sure, if People Like Us is anything to go by. Perhaps he still got a lift in playing the cocky salesman who thinks he's infallible, only to find his fears of family relationships coming back to haunt him, and perhaps also serving as an avenue for redemption and the picking up on responsibility, something his character had never committed to. Elizabeth Banks seem to picking up a lot more bit roles of late, and this one didn't have her do much except to slowly open up in the wrong way, while Michael Hall D'Addario becomes the scene stealer with his rage against the entire world attitude.

Having the likes of Olivia Wilde and Michelle Pfeiffer in small supporting roles didn't detract from the film's main intent to examine the building of ties between Sam, Frankie and Josh, and it surely goes well to say that blood will almost always run thicker than water. It has star power alright, but it didn't lift it beyond the average drama that it is.

Heartfelt Drama That Makes You Laugh, Cry and Every Emotion in Between

[rannynm · 8/10 · 3 August 2012]

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, 15-year-old Raven Devanney shares her review below:

Video review available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzovjcl38xw

People like us is a heartfelt drama about a man who's life takes a turn for the worst and in unsuspecting events leads him to a sister he never knew he had. This film was exceptional. It stars Elizabeth Banks, Chris Pine and Michelle Pfeiffer. People like us made me laugh, cry and feel every emotion in between. The visuals in this film were great and the acting was superb. My favorite character was Frankie played by Elizabeth Banks because her performance was so solid and she definitely carried the comedy of this film as well as the heavier emotions. My favorite part of this film is when Sam played by Chris Pine is getting to know Frankie and her young son because I enjoyed watching their bond grow.

It really bothered me that Sam wouldn't tell Frankie who he was until the end of the film because it just complicated their lives, but it gave the film a much needed twist. I recommend this film for ages 13 and up because of adult content and younger children may have a more difficult time fallowing along with the plot. Overall I give People like us 4 out of 5 stars.

Hmmm...

[fil-nik09 · 6/10 · 6 September 2015]

Generally speaking, this is not a bad movie. But it is not great either. It is somewhere in the middle, but the story - or better to say the point of the story makes it a bit more appealing and interesting ( complex family relations which most of us can relate to). If there were not some things that I found very 'lame' in the movie, I guess the rating would be higher.

First, I found it very silly and totally not understandable why he did not tell his sister earlier who he was? The feeling I had that she was kinda falling for him made me feel uncomfortable. Incest was in the air ...

Also, OK, I know it is a movie - though based on true events - but I don't think anyone would choose to help a kid in school when his mother is on the way ( and plus nothing of a big deal happened) to help him when on the other hand you have several people hanging above your head with : You will go to prison messages.

The reason for his girlfriend's leaving was lame. They should have come up with something more serious and believable...

Michelle Pffeiffer was kinda unrecognizable to me! Botox - too much of it? Or maybe I just did not see her in any of recent films.

six from me.

Great drama for 2012

[DarkVulcan29 · 10/10 · 29 June 2012]

Nice to see Elizabeth Banks can recover from disaster unfunny What to expect, When your expecting. And Chris Pine from the cinematic blandness that is This Means War.

Sam(Chris Pine) a smooth talking salesman, who's last deal falls flat, then his girlfriend gives him the news that his father had died, this has a mixed reaction for Sam, cause he and his father have never gotten along. Sam goes to funeral, and sees his mother. Then meets with with lawyer, who gives a kit of 15 thousand dollars, but then sees a note that tells him to give it too Frankie(Elizabeth Banks)a recovering alcholic, and a single mother, and a waitress, trying to make ends meat. But discovers she is his half sister. How will this play out in the end?

Chris Pine and Elizabeth Banks are beyond terrific with there performances, so was Olivia Wilde, not just playing the throw away love interest. Michelle Pfeiffer is also great as Pines mother. A well acted drama.

Above average drama with good chemistry between Banks and Pine

[maccas-56367 · 7/10 · 12 July 2021]

An above average drama that features some great chemistry between Banks and Pine, and an intriguing true story to keep viewers engaged.

There were quite a few great actors and actresses in this film. Elizabeth Banks, Chris Pine, Olivia Wilde, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mark Duplass, Jon Favreau - they all just seemed to keep popping up out of nowhere, and all delivering good performances.

The script would occasionally surprise with really smart writing. Some of the storyline had a slightly strange vibe, with it having the feel of a rom-com at times (despite it featuring brother and sister). It all felt fairly innocent though and I was surprised by how emotional I found the ending - which was quite effective.

An easy enough film to watch for those after an engaging drama that's a little bit different to the rest. Just falls short of being something truly amazing.

Bang and you are a good guy all of a sudden

[fxawd · 1/10 · 21 September 2012]

I don't think this movie deserves 7+ rating on IMDb and that's why I put a rating of 1. In reality it's a 5 star movie (out of 10) primarily because Hollywood is always trying to make a happy end even for illogical cases like the one this movie presented. ! SPOILER STARTS ! The guy was being a jerk and a liar (and that's his choice, I don't mind him being a one) and then, after he was thrown out by his sister from the apartment, he got immediately changed into a much better person, got his girlfriend back, made peace with his mother and established family ties with his sister and her son. So it's basically a fairy tale about an ugly duckling that became a beautiful swan in one day and w/o any intervention from Mother Nature. Pretty much on every front he succeeded and that what made me really upset. It's just not a realistic scenario so it's OK for movies like 2012 or Transformers but it's not OK for this movie that pretends to be a real life scenario. During a course of the movie I was thinking about how he would get away with all the lie he built up and I was really disappointed how easy he managed to settle down all the bad things he did.

Its not the Brady Bunch thats for sure

[dtucker86 · 6 July 2012]

Michelle Pfieffer and Elizabeth Banks both give A+ performances in this movie and they both deserve to be remembered at Oscar time. It is a joy watching these two outstanding thespians at work. It is amazing the intensity and depth they bring to their performances. They bring these tortured characters to life and you feel their pain. When I was getting ready to write this review, my first instinct was to say that there wasn't a really likable character in the film. That instinct was wrong. Its not that the characters aren't likable, its just that they are flawed and in deep emotional pain because one man didn't do his job as a responsible husband and father and the pain he caused lives after his death. This is a very dark film, very depressing, gritty and true to life. No "Brady Bunch" happy endings here folks. Surprisingly, I think it makes it a better movie. The only major beef I have with this film is the character of the boy Josh. He is without a doubt the most appalling child character since Wesley on Mister Belvedere. I kept wanting one of the adults to give him a good smack in his little fresh, dirty mouth. I always hate it in movies when they show smart aleck kids who talk to adults more strongly then real life kids would dare do!

A 20 Minute Movie Stretched To 114 Minutes

[patsworld · 6/10 · 18 July 2012]

Here's the thing about this movie. It isn't a bad movie, it's just stretched to the breaking point in order to make a full-length film out of it. Much like The Lucky One, where all the guy had to do was say, "I found this picture in the war....", this one runs on the fact that the guy has one sentence to say, before the inevitable results of his silence, that has any meaning....and for some reason, he can't make himself do that little thing...to the level where the audience just wants to collectively stand up and shout, "Say it! Just say it, for heaven sake!" But he doesn't. At least Chris Pine doesn't look 12 years old in this one, which was what made the movie This Means War such a farce. He does look a bit more mature, thank goodness. And he's pretty good in this one. And I know. I know. In either film I've mentioned, had that one vital, important sentence been uttered, it could have made a much shorter movie. But, on the other hand, perhaps it would have meant the creators might have been forced to come up with a few more reasons to create suspense in the audience. Maybe. Clever ending here, I will say. Added a nice emotional tie-up.

Unlikeable characters make jokes not as funny

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 15 April 2014]

Sam (Chris Pine) is long estranged from his record producer deceased father. He is left with a shaving kit bag. In it he finds $150k and a note telling him to take care of Josh Davis. Josh is a smart-mouthed little boy who constantly gets into trouble and his single mother Frankie (Elizabeth Banks) has to deal with the results. She's in AA and Sam's secret half sister. He's conflicted and wants to keep the money. He has a fight with his girlfriend Hannah (Olivia Wilde) and he can't stand his mother Lillian (Michelle Pfeiffer).

The kid is not adorable. He's a bitter smart aleck little brat. That takes most of the fun out of it. Then again neither is Sam a likable guy. It's hard to watch these unlikeable characters sometimes. It makes the jokes not as funny. At least, Elizabeth Banks is as charming as ever. But the movie is way too long and long sections of it dragged. There is the totally awkward relationship, but there is also a pretty good family dysfunction. It's very much a mix bag.

Pleasant but predictable.

[mat-mcnaughton-254-33257 · 6/10 · 15 July 2012]

"Inspired by true events" is pretty much the worst tagline you can put on a movie. It says you altered the truth so much that the only way the audience will know it's a 'true story' is by having you tell them. And this sums up this movie very well. Any bank robbery movie might as well be 'inspired by true events' because hey, there was this one time some guys and a girl robbed a bank.

As for this film, it has wonderful acting. Banks and Pine and newcomer Michael Hall D'Addario really kept me watching. Pfeiffer's role was decent, but I would have liked to see more interaction between her and D'Addario. Wilde was severely cut out of the movie, which sucked big time. If this movie wasn't so damn predictable I might have enjoyed it more.

An Amazing Film

[Hollywood_Yoda · 8/10 · 18 April 2020]

I wasn't expecting much when I sat down to watch this film, it only had a few well known actors and I didn't know who the director was. Around thirty minutes in, the movie became interesting, very dramatic. Chris Pine was great as Sam, the son of a record producer who has recently died, who learns of a family secret.

Elizabeth Banks also stars, in one of her more memorable and better roles. The ending was quite a tear-jerker, definitely not what I had expected. Very heartwarming story that anyone who enjoys light drama will enjoy.

People Like Us is a fine dramatic family story

[dalydj-918-255175 · 7/10 · 28 December 2012]

"Typical drama ensues when we see such as actors as Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks and Michelle Pfeiffer doing some good work in the film that hits most of the notes that a film with type of film would hit"

A film with this type of plot would most of the time be something made fun of by being called a lifetime movie but this film is not as bad those type of films and actually makes you care about the characters. Sam (Chris Pine) returns home when his father dies, returning home we see that Sam did not get on well with his deceased father. Meeting with his dad's lawyer he learns that he has a half-sister that he never knew he had. When he meets this women named Frankie (Elizabeth Banks) he takes a while to tell her the truth about him leading to the two of them starting a relationship which is built around lies through Sam.

The story is very predictable when such scenes as Frankie falling for Sam only to get super mad at him when learning the truth only at the end to forgive him over the thing they have in common which was a bad dad. Even when some of the scenes are predictable the film does have some great dramatic moments such as many of the scenes shared between Pine and Pfeiffer. Some of the writing was not well written especially some lines that had me confused and they mostly came from the son of Frankie and how most of his dialogue was laughable to me. I believe that the film is based on a true story because I would not know why some person would want to write and original story like this one. The film's cinematography was very bad to me because usually it seemed they used sunlight too much on these actors faces to try make them look more dramatic especially when Pine would look into the distant sometimes, this was not a good use of cinematography at all.

Chris Pine plays Sam and shows once again that he is not as good an actor as someone with his fame could be by taking risks. Everyone else around him comes off better mainly because he is just not a dramatic actor and should stick to his action films were he is not called to give a performance but just jump and run. Elizabeth Banks has been great at comedy but in this film as Frankie she gets to show how her dramatic work can be. She has fun in some scenes opposite Pine but sometimes when she is being dramatic she is believable but at other times she could have been better. She is better then Pine because her character does have more of a transformation. Michelle Pfeiffer plays Pine's mother Lillian and she truly is the best thing in her limited scenes with Pine. It's not one of her career best performances but she does such a great job in the film acting very natural and being the most emotional performance in the film that made me tear up sometimes. Also some actors in limited time such as Olivia Wilde are also worth a shout out. The actor playing the kid tried to make this character good but I was just annoyed by the child whenever he said anything.

The film is fine with some moments that are laughable even if the film was based off true events. Performances are fine with Michelle Pfeiffer being the standout in performance and in emotions that the film really needed. Overall I enjoyed the film and the chemistry that a lot of the actors had in the film.

MOVIE GRADE: B- (MVP: Michelle Pfeiffer)

Go See It

[SusanShop · 9/10 · 3 July 2012]

Somewhere everyday a family member dies, and secrets aren't secret anymore. Funerals are often referred to as celebrations and starting points for new directions in life. Chris Pine is a smooth talking salesman right up until he has to go to his father's funeral. His relationships with his job,his girlfriend, his family are nothing compared to what he now has to look at in regards to his feelings for his father. Tension that has been on the screen since the opening scene intensifies, and never lessens until the final scene. What initially appears to be a simple legacy,becomes the catalyst for so much more !! Wonderful drama!!

Policy of Truth... or not

[raulfaust · 7/10 · 20 January 2016]

Well, I've taken more than a year to decide watching this movie, since the main synopsis never really interested me. However, I must say that I found "People Like Us" a nice film to be seen; it has an unconventional way of storytelling that makes you wonder where it's heading to. In fact, the most unconventional aspect of it are the characters; Sam, for instance, isn't one of those cool guys that everyone simply adores. He is, actually, someone very unlikeable, whose lifeline, in the end, turns him into a regular guy. The rest of the characters are a little eccentric, which doesn't allow "People Like Us" become another Hollywood "i've-seen-it-all". Other than that, there isn't much to say; the story isn't going to change your life, but it will probably provide you a good time, even if some consider it to be overlong.

A Contrived Concept Makes Way for a Surprisingly Worthwhile, Emotionally Resonant Drama

[EUyeshima · 8/10 · 4 July 2012]

A studio picture with a premise this contrived shouldn't work, but this 2012 family drama works in ways that are quite unexpected and emotionally resonant because a palpable level of truthfulness emerges with the characters even as the plot teeters precariously on credibility issues. First-time filmmaker Alex Kurtzman, a go-to screenwriter of ϋber-action fare like "Star Trek" and "Mission: Impossible III", based his personal movie on events in his own life when he met his own half- sister for the first time as he turned thirty. The plot focuses on Sam, a slick, 31-year-old huckster of a salesman in the bartering business. Just as he gets snagged by a bad deal that costs him the huge bonus he just secured to pay off long-standing debts, Sam finds out his father, Jerry Harper, a legendary Laurel Canyon record producer, has died, which means he needs to come home to LA for the funeral against his will. Reuniting with his estranged mother Lillian becomes challenging enough, but Sam also discovers that his father left him $150,000 in his shaving kit.

The catch is that it comes with instructions to deliver the cash to an 11-year-old named Josh, who happens to be the son of Frankie, a half- sister he didn't know he had. Tempted to keep the cash himself, Sam finds Frankie and follows her to an AA meeting where she shares the sudden news of her father's death and the hurtful anger she feels for not being publicly acknowledged as his daughter. Her pain is what becomes the common bond that she and Sam share and the beginning of a web of lies he tells her in order to build upon his newly discovered family ties. It's this thread of deception that propels Kurtzman's storyline, and the moment you start to feel the movie get phony, he manages to get it back on track through the burgeoning relationship that forms between Sam, Frankie and Josh. Of course, the further Sam delays in telling the truth, the more catastrophic the results. Perceptive performances are critical in pulling off this kind of drama, and Kurtzman coaxes strong work from his cast.

Chris Pine captures Sam's manic energy and evasive nature to a T, and he manages to reveal the vulnerability underneath that shows he never quite gave up on his quest for his father's approval and love. Still etched in my memory as the hot-to-trot bookstore clerk in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin", Elizabeth Banks has matured as an actress and delivers a genuinely empathetic performance as Frankie, a single mother struggling with a hardscrabble life and a smart, troublemaking son. She and Pine manage a nice rapport that skirts the incest minefield that could have occurred in lesser hands. Too long off the screen and still looking like People Magazine's most beautiful woman, Michelle Pfeiffer makes her few scenes count as the newly widowed Lillian, who met Jerry back in the seventies when she was a former hatcheck girl at the Troubadour and dreamed of becoming the next Joni Mitchell. She succinctly shares her anger toward Sam for his indifference toward Jerry while slowly revealing her own secrets and fears. As the precocious Josh, Michael Hall D'Addario is given lines only an 11-year-old in a mainstream movie would speak, but he is such a likable young actor that he manages to come across as authentic.

Olivia Wilde has a thankless role as Sam's put-upon girlfriend Hannah, but she provides more depth than the plot device she represents, while indie mainstay Mark Duplass ("Humpday") seems to be showing up everywhere these days, this time as Frankie's conveniently available downstairs neighbor. There are cameos from familiar character actor Philip Baker Hall ("50/50") as Jerry's attorney friend and Jon Favreau as Sam's belligerent boss. A.R. Rahman ("Slumdog Millionaire") provides the original music, while cinematographer Salvatore Totino really captures the vibrancy of LA life beyond the stereotypical images. Kurtzman sometimes abuses quick cuts to emphasize Sam's restlessness, but when the truth is revealed in the story, it reinforces the message he sincerely conveys in appreciating the value of family and the importance of forgiveness. His clever use of home movies to bring this message home results in the heartbreaking impact that was obviously intended. I definitely recommend this surprising movie.

Touching and thoughtful - worth the time

[Springdivine · 7/10 · 18 April 2014]

I was pleasantly surprised when I finally committed to sitting down and watching this movie. I'm a huge fan of Michelle so naturally I knew I would get around to it, though the premise made me uneasy.

The story essentially revolves around Sam (Chris pine) who learns his father has died and left him a shaving case filled with money to give to his half sister, Frankie (elizabeth banks) that he never knew existed. During this journey we learn all about what in his eyes was a very unhappy childhood, the estrangement with his parents (Michelle Pfeiffer is his mother), some obvious relationship issues he has with his current girlfriend (Olivia Wilde), and the difficult issues Frankie and her son have.

I felt the acting was top notch for the most part. Loved Michelle as I always do. The only issue I had with the film were some of the unanswered questions and certain aspects that seemed less believable. Where was Frankie's mom in all this? Why would Jerry (Sam's dad) be so detached with him yet make the effort to reunite the kids on Sundays? Why would that detachment between Sam and his father mean distance between Sam and his mother? What the hell ended up happening with everyone trying to arrest Sam at the end? There is this shift where you get some insight that Sam may not be all that great of a guy... The argument he has with his girlfriend, troubles at work, yet it was never really addressed... Just he made up with everyone and yeah, happy ever after getting to know his sister. They delved a bit into Lillian's heart condition yet didn't fully explore why she wasn't seeking treatment and why she finally agreed to it, that convo even after she was back home never happened.

Despite all that, the movie was enjoyable and thought provoking - which are movies that are rarely made these days. So if you can forgive the questions that arise once it's finished and enjoy it for what it is, it's worth it.

Soap opera disguised as an indie film

[Skipfishh · 4/10 · 1 October 2023]

To start the conversation, I really like Elizabeth Banks, even though she is not in the hall of great movie actresses. And I think she doesn't disappoint here, the problem is that the direction doesn't help much, even less the script, which is full of clichés, and cliché is something that hinders any actor's performance.

The worst thing is that I found the premise good, very interesting, a more indie proposal in theory, dealing with loser characters, the universe of rock as a background theme, but which in fact has nothing to do with indie, it's just a disguise, the movie little by little reveals its true face, which is a corny and cheesy drama, very much a third-rate soap opera.

The background rock is also a farce, the soundtrack even starts well with James Gang and some appearances by Foghat and The Clash, but the truth is that even the music from the middle of the film turns into a real disgusting and tasteless music of steakhouse and soap opera, accompanying the real cloying and corny face that takes over the projection from the last 40 or 50 minutes onwards.

In short, a cheap melodrama with a script full of clichés, pretty little faces on the screen and mushyness direction/soundtrack that disguises itself as an indie film.

It's even strange that 7.0 rating on IMDB, but nothing surprises me anymore these days, people like every piece of crap... but it's not a zero rating movie either, I think 4.0 is a very generous rating on my part.