Movie 2005.05.22 - In Good Company

In this movie, Dennis Quad plays 51-year old ad sales executive Dan Foreman. The magazine was acquired by corporate raider Teddy K., and 26-year old Carter Duryea (played by Topher Grace) was sent over to take his place. Definitely bad news for Dan because at his age, he can't afford to lose his job. Wife Ann announces she's pregnant, and daughter Alex (Scarlett Johansson) ditches her tennis scholarship to take up creative writing at NYU in Greenwich Village. What's worse news than a second mortgage? Carter and Alex become a couple behind Dan's back.

This sounds like a feel-good movie, but it's not. During the inter-department basketball game, it would've nice for Dan to execute a killer dunk to show 'em who's the real hotshot, but instead he landed hard on the court and injured his arm. During that coffeeshop scene where he confronts Carter and Alex, it would've been nice if Dan realizes that kids will be kids and just let them be (and earn brownie points with the boss), but instead he makes a loud commotion, socks Carter in the eye, and storms off. When Dan contradicts Teddy K. during his grand let's-take-over-the-world speech, it would've been nice if everyone broke into applause, and Teddy K. slinks off with his tail between his legs, but instead Teddy K. observes, "Very interesting questions.", and sells off the magazine company again.

Later, Alex breaks off with Carter; Carter loses his job; Dan gets back his ad sales department, and rehires his laid-off staff. He offers Carter a job, but he declined. And if you were thinking if Alex and Carter got back together? They didn't.