the audience applauded

Let's be realistic.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

In Good Company is light, pleasantly satirical, and pokes fun at its characters not to be mean or for dark comedy's sake, but because it cares about them, and knows that catharsis can be found through irony, awkwardness and humour. The script never laughs at them, but rather with them. It's a nicely done little look at family, middle age, office politics and how they relate via a trio of characters all going through various stages of their professional and personal lives. Dan (Dennis Quaid) is an executive in a suit and tie world of big business, his career more than half over and his faith in the all American work force starting to dwindle. His company is run in a slapdash, arbitrary, almost Gilliam-esque fashion and he's dead tired of it. His new boss Carter (Topher Grace) is less than half his age, a clueless, happy go lucky nice guy whose given the keys to the kingdom without an instruction manual. He's good natured and open towards Dan, who is understandably grouchy at the position they're in. It doesn't help that Carter has begun to date his daughter Alex (Scarlett Johansson) as well. He begins to feel both alienation and absurd upheaval in his life, which so far has been as linear and right angled as the photo copier paper in his office. It's fascinating seeing Quaid explore this. He's a borderline old timer who's being treated like the dinosaur in a millennial world, given the option to adapt or be phased out. The other side of the coin is just as interesting: Carter is the green eared upstart, thrust into a corporate thresher armed with little more than a meager college education and his good will. Both learn life lessons that are written and performed with just the right mixture of comedy and droll seriousness. There's fine supporting work from Kevin Chapman, David Paymer, Philip Baker Hall, Marg Helgenberger, Selma Blair, Clark Gregg in a priceless turn as the office's resident cutthroat lunatic, and a perfectly smarmy cameo from Malcolm McDowell as the slick regional CEO Teddy K. It's lighter fare that still urges you to walk away with something learned, a nice blend of comedy and drama, that doesn't always spell out which of the two it's presenting you at any given time.

Dennis Quaid is an actor I've pretty much tried to ignore over the years. It may be that the movies he selected to appear in did not usually appeal to me. However, there have been a couple of films lately -- including this film -- that has made me re-look at Quaid...and I'm becoming more and more impressed.Also, I looked at Topher Grace as that kid on a television series I didn't care for. But I'm impressed with him here. Gotta reexamine that too! Scarlett Johansson is lovely and a fine actress. Just 20 when she made this film, she is racking up quite a list of films to her credit. I can see why.Clark Gregg is good here as a sort of shyster executive. And I always appreciate David Paymer...here as a down-and-out (or is he) ad man.In terms of the story, it's a pretty decent one. A new company buys up a sports magazine and put Topher Grace in charge, even though he's younger and not very experience. Upheavals come, and he begins to look at one of the old-timers (although he's only 52 in the move...Quaid) as a father figure...but also falls in love with Quaid's daughter. Quite a dilemma for Quaid. The one thing in this movie that I really fault is whether it would be very likely that Quaid's character would be quite so abrasive and on the verge of quitting when he has just taken out a second mortgage on his house and his wife is having a baby; not very likely...although it makes the story work.Recommended. I really enjoyed it.

This is a clever film. It's set in New York, but it's not a New York film. There's a strong lovestory at its centre but its not a romance. The screwball twist in place at the start has a yuppie as boss to an old-timer but the comedy never spins off beyond the congenial. I like that it's unusual without being cranky.Paul Weitz manages the film very well with this sidestepping of expectation - but without dampening the powder of the premise. It's a funny film, a good script punched out credibly by the good cast. Quaid and Johansson are utterly secure in their rather more conventionally dramatic turns - Grace must shoulder the burden of the comedy which he does with a necessary if wearing excess of energy. There's plenty of good support including a brief but interesting cameo from Malcolm MacDowell whose equivocal father figure is a quietly pivotal moment on screen. 6/10

I am a huge fan of "That 70s Show" and "About A Boy" first and foremost. Topher was just the icing on the cake for this one. I feel he really carried his own and in many ways, this role was made for him. Scarlett Johansson has this presence about her that just makes the watcher want more and more. Plus, she got to smooch Topher. That kiss scene in the street was so natural and didn't seem like it was forced or pretentious one bit. At times, I sort of thought Dennis was overdoing the whole "I'm older listen to me" but I kind of figured at the same time that's what the character called for. Dennis had some funny lines but Topher was the only one with the funny delivery for me. The movie was very funny. I only wished it was longer only because I wanted to see how far it would go with Topher's character. I suppose it was the way Directed/Writer Weiz had wanted us to believe. I loved how the ending mirrored everyone's struggle to be themselves. Maybe you don't want to wear a suit and tie and be this anal retentive prick spewing out orders to a marking company. Maybe life is about doing things that bring you the most joy. I'm glad Tohper had figured that part out. He seems really intelligent in the movie and it showed in every corner of the writing. Though, I believe despite the crazy good screenplay, he had added a little of himself in the role. LOVED this movie! Topher will be around for a while.