In Good Company

While surviving through the glut of loud and large-scale Christmas releases, I was pulled in by the trailer for In Good Company. Kerry and I gave it a look this past weekend. It sucks outside right now (have I bitched about how cold it is? I think I have), and this movie could not have come at a better time; as a pick-me-up, it comes shining through. The movie is sweet, honest, touching, and most importantly, human. Some moments are so identifiable that it's laugh-out-loud (anyone wrapped in corporate culture will recognize the dreaded 360-review). And even though In Good Company walks obediently along with some typical lesson-learned movie conventions, those involved (Dennis Quaid, Scarlett Johansson, Topher Grace and a scene-swiping David Paymer) put in such smooth, controlled performances that it just didn't seem to matter. I left the theater feeling better than I did going in. Job done.

Side note: There's a potentially good soundtrack from this film, with some nice songs by Iron & Wine, The Shins, David Byrne and Damien Rice. Director Paul Weitz also helmed the equally cheerful-but-not-too-saccharine About A Boy.

Theater idiots: A bighead in front who overly enjoyed his rocking seat, a candy-bar crinkler to the right, chatty, light-bladdered elderly woman in the rear.