People Like Us Review

Marking writer Alex Kurtzman's directorial debut, People Like Us explores a semi-autobiographical premise in which two adults discover that they are long lost siblings. It's an interesting concept, one that puts an inspired twist on the conventional courting formula. But along with the innovation comes an extra dose of syrupy comfort to ease you back into the Hollywood mainstream. What results is a hodgepodge of comedy and drama that works wonderfully in some places and falters in others.

The story follows Sam (Chris Pine), a fast-talking salesman whose latest deal has collapsed on the same day he discovers his estranged father has died. Against his wishes, he's forced to come home to Los Angeles, where he must fulfill his father's final wish: delivering $150,000 of his family's fortune to the sister he never knew he had, the 30-year-old Frankie (Elizabeth Banks). In his struggle to decide what to do, Sam develops a relationship with both his newfound sibling and her young son Josh (Michael Hall D'Addario).

The plot of People Like Us is surprisingly compelling. The majority of the movie focuses on Sam as he builds a bond with Frankie, who has no idea that they're related. As the story unfolds, we discover that they both come from different mothers and that Frankie has come to despise and loathe her father's "other" family over the years. Unbeknownst to her, she grows closer to the very half-brother she's learned to despise. As you might suspect, this idea could very quickly enter awkward non-platonic territory, but Kurtzman and co-writer Roberto Orci gracefully sidestep this issue at every turn, allowing yourself to focus on the more pleasant aspects of their relationship. In the end, we're presented with a very engrossing "love" story that centers on a genuine friendship.

At its core, though, People Like Us is a morality tale in which Sam must answer two difficult questions: one, does he tell Frankie and Josh that he is in fact related to them; and two, does he tell them about the $150,000 that is rightfully theirs? Both arcs work quite nicely together, and the added moral support from Sam's girlfriend Hannah (Olivia Wilde) and his mom Lillian (Michelle Pfeiffer) help to flesh out Sam's character.

Of course, the easy standout of the film is Pine, who is just as charming and magnetic as ever. His performance alone is almost worth the price of admission. He does an excellent job of portraying his character's demanding range of emotions, often switching from one to another in a very short amount of time. Likewise, Banks turns out a heartwarming performance as Frankie and plays really well opposite both Pine and the young D'Addario. Wilde is only featured for about fifteen minutes total, but she plays the part of a loving girlfriend with breezy finesse. Pfeiffer's character also has a few great scenes with Sam later in the film.

The tone of the movie is where things get a little odd. Coming from a background of mostly high-energy genre films -- Star Trek, Transformers, Cowboys & Aliens -- Kurtzman's direction runs the gamut from fast-paced thriller to mushy melodrama. One too many times I felt like I was on the edge of my seat for no reason in particular; scenes featuring casual conversation or sunny establishing shots were met with an unnecessarily nerve-racking underscore. Other times, a heartfelt moment would be drowned out by a terribly mixed contemporary track. Generally speaking, the music seems to overpower many of the film's quieter moments. Curiously, the movie is also shot almost like an action flick, with quick cuts and dynamic camera movement -- an odd choice, considering Kurtzman and Orci's relatively mellow script.

But for its many stylistic quirks, the film is still pretty enjoyable. The solid script and likable performances more than make up for the occasionally jarring shot composition. Most importantly, the story has a real heart to it that's hard to come by in today's star-studded dramedies. If you're looking for something a little different from the usual summer blockbuster fare, People Like Us is definitely worth checking out. Just be prepared to leave the theater with a welled throat and puffy eyes.



Source : ign[dot]com