People Like Us

Once in a while, in the middle of all the huge, high-budget, visually eye-popping films out there for the summer, there is a film that you might have to look for, that is small-budget; a film about fear, anger, bitterness, soul-searching and redemption that one would've never thought they could find in summer. If you're looking for such a film, you'll find it in "People Like Us".

Sam (Chris Pine) leads a very busy life in the commodities business. Because he's so difficult to reach, he arrives home and his wife, Hannah (Olivia Wilde) tells Sam that she's called him several times to tell him that his father has died. Sam hasn't been back home where he was raised for a while only to find his mother, Lillian (Michelle Pfeiffer) there to have to contend with.
While settling his father's estate, he unwittingly discovers he has a sister, Frankie (Elizabeth Banks) and a nephew, Josh (Michael Hall D'Addario), Frankie's son, whom he never knew existed. Sam, out of curiosity, decides to search her out which, as they meet, lead both to re-examine their perceptions about family and life choices.

Others to round out the cast are Mark Duplass as Ted, a neighbor of Frankie's, Sara Mornwell as Dr. Amanda, and Philip Baker Hall as Ike Rafferty, the attorney of the estate.

This was sensitively directed by Alex Kurtzman, who has directed some TV and mostly has done a good deal of producing, but since this is his first theatrical film in the directing category, I would like to see this guy receive more work which I believe will be the case.
This was equally well written by Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Jody Lambert, and with the exception of very few inconsistencies, this was a well thought out script allowing each of the characters to develop with ease.

This film could've taken the approach that so many Hollywood films have done in that through the revelations shown, bitterness and intense anger could've lingered and been justisfied by so many characters in the film, but this went a different, even healthier way, and since the film is based on true events, it makes not only the premise seem incredible but more so, the way certain characters handled it ultimately.

Out of 4 stars: 3.5                  Rated: PG-13                      114min.