PEOPLE LIKE US directed by Alex Kurtzman, written by Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Jody Lambert, with Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks and Michelle Pfeiffer. 115 minutes. A DreamWorks release. Opens Friday (June 29). For venues and times see Movies. Rating: NNNN
Sure, it’s a bit soapy and has one of those conflicts that could be resolved in three minutes if the characters would just start talking to each other, but People Like Us has a powerful emotional through-line and a cast of great actors who make the most of it.
The charismatic Chris Pine is hugely compelling as amoral salesman Sam, who heads to his father’s funeral with his girlfriend just as the Federal Trade Commission is about to come down on Sam in a heavy way.
Sam’s mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) greets him with a slap in the face. Obviously, Sam had been an absent son to both his record producer father and his mother. He’s got some major issues.
When the family lawyer gives him a sack full of cash with a note instructing him to give it to a certain Josh Davis, Sam considers keeping it for himself – he’s inherited only his dad’s vinyl – but then discovers that his father had a daughter from another relationship and that 11-year-old Josh is his nephew.
Soon Sam is almost stalking his AA-attending half-sister Frankie (Elizabeth Banks) and developing a friendship with Josh (Michael Hall D’Addario), all the while never giving away who he is.
Like I said, soapy or what? And certain elements of the narrative are almost laughably predictable. You just know when Sam spies the medical marijuana in the medicine cabinet that he’ll be availing himself soon. And you can see some plot points a mile away – especially those concerning Sam’s mum and Frankie.
Banks, who’s tightly wound on the one hand, achingly vulnerable on the other, gives a great performance. Pine is riveting, Pfeiffer (finally playing her age) is in great form, and D’Addario doesn’t have a cutesy bone in his body.
Even if it’s a little noisy – Sam’s dad was a rock producer, and the soundtrack reflects that – it’s cool to see a beautifully acted, character-driven film in this season of actioners and half-baked sequels.
susanc@nowtoronto.com
