People Like Us (2012)

"You're all wonderin whether I fuck my brother in this movie, right?"

At a glance:

Dreamworks together with longtime producer Alex Kurtzman on his directorial debut have come up with a fairly refreshin model of PG-13 rom-com in the winsome, LA-set People Like Us (previously titled Welcome To People), so it's a bit of a bum note if you, like me, suffered a generous, over-informative trailer. We know it's apparently loosely based on his life but did we have to get that much of a look-in? One should only know, walkin into this movie, that it's about a motor-mouthed strugglin salesman named Sam (Chris Pine, Star Trek, 2009), who learns that his estranged music producer dad has died and must now decide whether to fulfill his late father's wishes of passin $150,000 to his hitherto unknown sister Frankie (Elizabeth Banks, Man On A Ledge, 2012), an alkie mum with a troublemakin young son (Michael Hall D'Addario). Worry not - any chance of veerin into incestuous territory was snuffed out in about two seconds, much to the relief of the excitable zaftig woman a few rows in front of me who was heard shoutin "No, don't!"

Yep, I would.

Bad news on the doorstep:

Hmm... maybe another round of editin could've picked up the pace a little near the end. Also, Chris Pine is guilty of over-actin in patches.

Perennial wonderment:

Elizabeth Banks is doin super these days, isn't she? It feels like only yesterday she was in Zack And Miri Make A Porno (2008) with Seth Rogen. Reminds me of a younger Maria Bello. I believe she's the kind of actress Kristen Stewart can learn to be. Anyway, there's a notable turn in here from Michelle Pfeiffer who's still in the game, as it seems, playin the embittered mum. What a national treasure, she is. She had a small role in Dark Shadows recently, didn't she? I dislike Anne Hathaway for Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises so much, I'd rather Michelle whip out that old black latex and show her how it's done right. 

Michelle Pfeiffer, dignified as ever.

Reminds me of:

Well this is nothin like it - but the last time I saw any movie with improper brother-sister conduct was Charlotte Gainsbourg in The Cement Garden (1993). That was an infinitely more unsettlin movie.

I can't remember if I cried:

No I didn't cry but the endin is a winner. Satisfyin stuff, elevatin this from decent counter-programmin filler to memorable date movie.

Most memorable line:

"Don't steal from a record store. That's like kicking a dead man." But it's the kid who's the scene stealer, though. His gems include "But it's like milk and vegetables!" when asked to defend eatin cheese and onion crisps before dinner.

Amacam joker, berapa bintang lu mau kasi?
Quite a personal family drama, with nuggets of lovely detail. Likeable, sharp dialogue. More than adequately scored by Bollywood maestro A.R. Rahman. ★★★ 1/2
Bonus material:
Here are photos that were mountin an incestuous relationship that never was. Phew!

AllBlogToolsFacebook comments for blogger brought to you by AllBlogTools.com , Get Yours?