People Like Us

Fast-talking Sam Harper (Chris Pine) is an East Coast trade negotiator who discovers that he is under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission on the same day that he learns his music-producer father has died in Los Angeles. Reluctantly returning to the West Coast with his girlfriend (Olivia Wilde), Sam arrives after the funeral, further infuriating his estranged mother (Michelle Pfeiffer). And then the family lawyer hands him his father's shaving kit, which contains $150,000 that he is to deliver to a half-sister named Frankie (Elizabeth Banks) who he never knew existed. An Alcoholics Anonymous member, Frankie is a stressed-out single mother with a troubled, precocious, adolescent son, Josh (Michael Hall D'Addario), who's rebelling at school. How will Sam break the news to Frankie, his new nephew, and his mother? Rather than immediately tackling the odious task of revelation, ambivalent Sam insinuates himself into Frankie's life by befriending Josh, promising to teach him six important life-lessons, but keeping the truth hidden. Frankie resents her father's abandonment, but Sam realizes that this same father was barely around for him either…until an unexpected explanation is revealed. Director Alex Kurtzman's semi-autobiographical, soapy, character-driven sibling story feels somewhat contrived, although the superb cast delivers far more emotional naturalism than is found in the sentimental, simplistic script. Recommended, overall. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary with director Alex Kurtzman and costars Chris Pine and Elizabeth Banks, select scene commentary by Kurtzman and costar Michelle Pfeiffer, and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are deleted scenes (19 min.), a “Number One with a Bullet” behind-the-scenes segment on the real-life events that inspired the film (15 min.), “Taco Talk” outtakes (5 min.), bloopers (4 min.), and a bonus DVD copy of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an uneven but worthwhile film.] (S. Granger)