January 5, 2005
In This Good Company
At the end of the year, some distribution companies will sneak a movie into one or two theaters in New York and Los Angeles to make them eligible for that year's release schedule before they're released nation-wide in January. Thus, New Yorkers get our very own extended advance screening of little gems like the Weitz brother's newest In Good Company, where we can say "nyah-nyah" to the rest of the country, because we saw it first.
From the writer/directors of About A Boy, In Good Company is another story of men learning to become the best they can be. Dennis Quaid plays Dan Foreman, an aging advertisement salesman at a sports magazine recent bought out by a international conglomerate, who put their 26 year old wiz kid (Topher Grace) in his old position. They come of an uneasy truce until Dan realizes Carter has been wooing Dan's college student daughter, Alex (Scarlett Johansson) under his nose.
Gothamists will love seeing their New York photographed in this movie. Accidental meetings outside Cafe Reggio and longing looks down at the twinkling cars from a high rise are the stuff sweet romantic comedies should be made from. The soundtrack's also chockablock with great music from the Shins, Iron and Wine, Peter Gabriel, David Byrne, Franz Ferdinand and even a little Steely Dan. With a great cast, moment of inspired hilarity and a soundtrack sure to be rocking our iPod very soon, In Good Company had Gothamist doing Dan Foreman's little happy bird dance out of the theater.
In Good Company is playing at the Loews IMAX on 68th and Broadway, and opens nationwide on January 14.
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I saw this movie, too, and loved it, but one thing drove me nuts. Topher's character - a young, hot shot executive - initially lives in a modern suburban home - presumably NJ? - and drives a Porsche. Wouldn't a 26-year-old guy with a huge salary live in a trendy Manhattan neighborhood? Something about this choice didn't ring true, as if the directors really wanted the movie to take place in LA, but had to have it take place here because the plot centers around a magazine publisher. Still, the movie is enjoyable and Dennis Quaid is his best yet.
doesn't topher grace look a lot like tobey mcguire?
Oh god, please don't say that! Topher is so much better looking. And has grown into his goofienss. Tobey McGuire looks pre-pubescent. Always.
I thought maybe the house in the 'burbs had to do with his need to settle down too early. He's anxious to have a family but he hasn't picked the right person to do it with. Or something, like that. I liked that they had a framed picture of their modernist house, inside the house itself. Talk about self-absorbed!