LAFF 2012 : PEOPLE LIKE US

Alex Kurtzman brings his life to the big screen in the very honest PEOPLE LIKE US.

Chris Pine plays Sam Harper (based on Kurtzman), a trade negotiator living a fast paced life on the East Coast. When his father, a well-respected mogul in the music business, passes away, Sam must return home for the funeral, whether he wants to or not. Estranged from his father, Sam wants to get in and out of town as quickly as possible, but before he leaves he must settle his father’s estate. What Sam didn’t see coming was that his father had a secret life. He had another family. Now, Sam struggles with getting to know his sister Frankie (Elizabeth Banks) without her knowing who he is, along with figuring out his own crumbling life.

I really enjoyed this film. It’s refreshing to see a movie about a dysfunctional family that doesn’t shove their broken problems down your throat. Instead, we get real, intimate characters and a dynamic, interesting drama that feels genuine. Chris Pine is wonderful as Sam. He plays the role with a perfect balance of charm, confusion, and pain. Elizabeth Banks always seems to surprise me. Her character, Frankie, has not had an easy life, and Banks does an excellent job of conveying how hard life has been while still showing a strong, confident side. Her sarcasm and humor only add to such a well-rounded character. Michelle Pfeiffer is wonderful as Sam’s mother. There were some very tough issues that her character had to deal with, and Pfeiffer knocked it out of the park. Her scenes with Pine are intense and raw. The two do a great job of showing their characters fighting through their issues while still showing love through the pain. Of course, we can’t forget Michael Hall D’Addario, who plays Frankie’s rebellious son Josh. D’Addario is definitely one to watch. He’s incredibly funny and charming onscreen, and shows a wide array of emotions. I was really impressed!

Kurtzman does a great job of telling this story, which is loosely based on his life. It took him 8 years to get the film made, and the end product really showcases the time and effort put in. As dysfunctional as things are, and as painful as they may be, the message of the film is clear… it’s the importance of family.

As Sam and Frankie get to know each other, it’s pretty obvious that Sam will wait as long as possible before telling Frankie who he is . At the same time, I can forgive the predictability since, without it, we wouldn’t have much of a story. I think the complexity of the characters more than makes up for the expected story. Having said that, I am thankful that the romance between Sam and his girlfriend Hannah (Olivia Wilde) takes a backseat. It’s nice to see a movie that doesn’t need to include a huge romance as part of the primary story line. There were more complex issues going on in the film and the romance is merely a background support.

PEOPLE LIKE US is heartwarming and relatable. It’s a wonderful tale for the modern family.

OVERALL RATING: 4.25 out of 5 stars