just fans of Topher Grace.It has a rather unusual ending which adds to the movie's touching nature.

personal goals, and Alex's evolving relationship with her father.The acting throughout is excellent. Topher Grace especially shines as disaffected 26 year old Carter not to mention that he has grown up quite nicely , and Dennis Quaid subtly conveys middle-age weariness. Scarlett Johannsen seemed very young, and wasn't quite as good as in Lost In Translation or A Love Song for Bobby Long.Overall, I found the movie to be excellent and worth seeing in the theater again.

the "take over" comes some restructuring and some "cleaning out".Enter 26 year old Carter Duryea Toper Grace , a Globecom employee given the opportunity of a lifetime to work at "Sports America"; cut their costs and increase their revenue.As Carter begins demoting and firing people, he leans to Dan for support because he is young and really has no idea what the hell he is going to do. Dan isn't impressed by the young Carter, and never fails to point out Carter's obvious flaws and lack of experience.Carter IS trying, he just has no direction. When his marriage fails and his wife bails out because she is apparently not getting any attention, Carter begins to get quite lonely; despite his financial success. He works his new team on weekends, and is pretty desperate for attention.Carter happens to weasel his way over to Dan's house one weekend evening for dinner, much to Dan's regret. During the visit, he gets a chance to talk with Dan's daughter Alex Scarlett Johansson , who is about to start college at NYU. A future encounter on a city street starts a secret relationship ship between Carter and Alex.During this time, Carter is firing people left and right at the ordering of his Globecom superiors. Poor Dan is losing his whole team, not to mention his faith in his career. He puts up with Carter, but doesn't really extend his friendship beyond work."In Good Company" works on so many levels. Dennis Quaid is awesome as the fatherly and wise Dan Foreman. Toper Grace is establishing himself quite admirably as a fine young actor. He plays Carter with much more honesty than arrogance. Sure Carter is a young, inexperienced hot shot; but Grace pulls off the character so that you really do sympathize with him and his dilemma.The chemistry between Quaid and Grace is completely believable, relatable, and intriguing to watch. The supporting cast of characters are all fine actors-but the two male leads really nail their characters to perfection.For this reviewer, "In Good Company" reflected what I thought of as a metaphor in the lives of older vs. younger in Hollywood as well as in corporate America. It's as if you have your more mature & well established actor Quaid , passing the torch of experience to his younger nemesis turned ally Grace . That's just my opinion of how well these two actors played off each other. After all, Hollywood is a corporation in itself.I also thought the movie had a fine & honest ending that leaves the viewer very satisfied. It doesn't try to end on a phony, syrupy, & sappy note; like so much other Hollywood tripe these days.Just a fantastic film..........all the way around.

into something special. Topher Grace was excellent in this film. I found him very charming and believable, and he was sincere in his role. However, Dennis Quaid was really wonderful. His character was likable, and you found yourself routing for him throughout. His interactions with his family were endearing, and his relationship with his daughter Alex Scarlett Johanssen reminded me of my own father. I highly recommend this movie. 4/5

predict the next line, action, etc. It is refreshing to walk away satisfied with an ending one could not have guessed.

gets on well with his two teenage daughters. The older one, Alex Scarlett Johansson, in another deep and convincing performance , has a tennis scholarship to a New York State public university where the tuition isn't exactly sky high. But she wants to transfer to New York University in Greenwich Village to study creative writing where the cost is very, very steep.Almost before you can get into your tub of popcorn Dan is struck with multiple whammies. His magazine is taken over by a mega-corporate raider, Teddy K, and a new ad department honcho, Carter Duryea Topher Grace , only twenty-six years young, bounces Dan from his executive office while also anointing him as his designated "wingman." Earnest, inexperienced, foppish, supercilious and dangerous in that special way the inept invariably are, he poses a real threat to Dan's future. And Dan is worried about his future because Ann announces she's having a change-of-life baby.And then Scarlett meets Carter. You need me to tell you what Dan's next mid-life crisis will be? "In Good Company" could have been just a mildly amusing sitcom. The fast-paced acting and the excellence of the cast - especially Quaid and young she's still a teen Johansson - kept me glued to the screen for the whole showing. And I admit to being troubled by the issues underlying and scenes showing peremptory firings. There's some ambiguity here - is that the only way for a prosperous corporation to go? Dan's pain at losing long-time co-workers is deeply etched on his face but is he more sentimental and loyal than realistic? I don't know. From the vantage point of a tenured academic with lifetime employment I found myself dragged into questions that I think Weitz meant to raise. Well, he did anyway.Small roles are well performed by David Paymer as one of Dan's subordinates and Selma Blair who briefly shows up in the beginning as Carter's new wife, Kimberly. I always enjoy seeing this fine actress but her talent is wasted in brief roles.And Manhattan restaurants where I eat and stores where I shop are all over the well-shot scenes and that always makes me happy.A very good film.9/10

ad dept.Dan's home-life is getting more complicated as well. His wife Marg Helgenberger is suddenly pregnant and his daughter Scarlet Johannsen is transferring to a more expensive university. Dan takes all this in stride the best he can because he knows he needs to hold on to his job because who'll hire a 52 year old salesman that commands his salary. But things start heading south as more and more of Dan's friends are fired and he soon realizes that Carter and his daughter are a couple.This movie is very smartly written and very well acted. Quaid is at his best in these more reserved roles and Topher Grace is very good as the new stud, but unaware that he is in over his head. "In Good Company" is sort of an example of how out of control the business world has gotten with new technology and synergy, where the old timers really don't have much of a chance anymore because things are advancing so much. ***1/2

no further.Carter Duryea is picked by his mentor in the conglomerate where he is the rising star, and the logical choice, to be put in charge of the magazine that has been recently acquired by a business tycoon Teddy K. Carter has no clue of what he is in for. Most of the older staff members are canned, but Carter is no dummy, he keeps the talented Dan Foreman because he can be used. After all, Dan is in his early 50s, married, with a couple of children of college age, and in debt.Carter has no life. His wife walks out on him in spite of the big promotion. Right after that, he meets Don's older daughter, Alex. She wastes no time in getting him into her college dorm room. Dan Foreman has no idea of what's going on right in front of his nose. After all, he dislikes Carter, and his ways, more than anything else in the world. That's why when Dan discovers the two lovers in a trendy Manhattan eatery, he goes ballistic.When Carter's guru has a tragic fall, after he has served his purpose and has been used by Teddy K. As a result, Carter loses his job as well, because ultimately, Dan, is recognized for his own merit, rather than for being the yes man that Carter, or his superior were. After all, Dan is the only one that asks the questions that no one dares to, about the conglomerate losing vision on the magazine.This acerbic comedy sheds a life on corporate America like no other one in recent memory. Dennis Quaid plays a brilliant Dan Foreman, the older man. Topher Grace is amazing as the young Carter, who gives an incredible performance. Scarlett Johansson plays Alex Foreman, a young woman without any hangups who enters into an affair with her father's boss.Beware of those ninety day wonders!

asking yourself, how bad can it get? Unhappily, in this case it always manages to get still worse. Happily, it does eventually end.