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In Good Company
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2005
Jan 22
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Comments
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Dennis Quaid and Topher Grace (of That 70s Show) for some odd reason made a great pair, each playing great off each other’s character. The movie also tackles a common theme in many of our lives: generation clash.
Quaid is an advertising executive manager for a sports magazine. He’s got 25 years with company and his co-workers are all from the same school. Hard nosed work ethic, all having to earn what they’ve got.
Topher is a 26-year-old kid just out of college. He is an salesman selling cell phones for a giant media company. He probably worked hard to get where he is - at a low level sales job - but soon a promotion would be his.
Quaid’s magazine gets bought out by a media giant, one that operates web sites, television stations, newspapers, stores, and now magazines. The structure of the magazine is overhauled with new “corporate policy” and Quaid finds himself replaced - by Topher. So the 52-year-old wise man is swapped for the rookie. Worse yet, Quaid is demoted and Topher is now his boss.
I felt this plot line is one that hits home to a lot of people in today’s working world. I don’t think it’s talked about enough and I’m glad it’s put into a somewhat realistic light. Second on this list is the trend of multimedia companies gobbling up smaller companies. The days of mom & pop stores are long gone and before too long everyone is playing under a single corporate policy. Is it a shame? Yes, which Quaid brings to the fore in the film, and that’s a wake up call for young Topher.
Of course the movie was promoted as a love story, but that aspect is a little weak. Topher falls in love with Quaid’s daughter, which is odd for both of them. Quaid and Topher form a bond outside of the work place which is the heart of the film. The end is almost a surprise but I agree with the choice they made because it just goes to show where the Topher character is going.
So where do you file this film? Under romantic comedy, I guess, although the romanticness is pretty weak, in my opinion. This is far from your typical chick flick, in fact, I won’t even call it a chick flick - so if that’s your excuse for not seeing it, that doesn’t fly. I’ll admit this is probably a renter rather than a first run experience, but if you’re over 50 and under 35 then you’ll be able to get something from the movie.






