“People Like Us” comes from the same studios behind last year’s Oscar-winning “The Help”. And that’s about the only thing these two films have in common.
Chris Pine (“Star Trek”) stars as Sam. He’s a businessman with money troubles. On top of that, Sam learns that his father, a successful LA music producer, has died. Sam’s hesitant to travel to California for the funeral. He didn’t like his father very much and hasn’t seen his mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) in a long time. But he and his girlfriend (played by Olivia Wilde) do go, arriving after the ceremony. The next day Sam learns that, in his will, his father left him his record collection and $150,000 in cash. But the money is not for him. A note from his father instructs Sam to find and give the money to two people he doesn’t know.
They are Josh, an 11-year-old boy and his single mom named Frankie (Elizabeth Banks). She works at a bar and is a recovering alcoholic. Josh is constantly getting into trouble at school. When Sam first meets Frankie she’s talks about her father who recently passed away. Sam quickly realizes that they had the same father and that Frankie is his step-sister. But he doesn’t know how to tell her, and he may want to keep the money for himself. He begins hanging-around with them even though they still think he’s a total stranger. Will Sam tell Frankie the truth? Will he keep the money? Will Josh ever cut his hair?
As is almost always is the case with “I’ve got a secret” movies, “People Like Us” has a simple story that is stretched-out way too long (nearly two hours). Many scenes could’ve easily been chopped in half. Sam is one of the most unlikable lead characters in any movie I’ve seen in a long time which makes it so hard to buy his attitude changes throughout the film. We’re supposed to feel bad for him and his situation, but he does nothing to deserve our sympathy. Pine’s unconvincing performance doesn’t help.
Banks is solid, doing her best with the material, and she avoids being too preachy (unlike Sam). You do feel bad for her character at times. But Josh is a wise-mouthed, rude son who acts-out at school to get attention but, again, is so unlikable that I don’t care if his life got any better. Pfeiffer is o.k. as the mom (even though it’s another stereo-typical role). Wilde is wasted as the girlfriend who stands by Sam, even though he’s a jerk.
But the biggest problem with the “People Like Us” is the manipulative, formulaic script. This is a classic chick-flick plot: man meets single-mother with a son, they get to know and like each other, the son becomes attached to the man, who has to decided if he’ll stay with them or go on with his life. Yes there’s one major difference – the man and woman are brother and sister – but that’s not enough make this story stand-out from the ordinary.
There are attempts at light humor. They all fail. And the ending – well, let’s just say that it will go down in the Movie Gimmick Hall of Fame.
“People Like Us” is rated PG-13 for a surprising amount of adult language (much of it from the kid). It’s appropriate for teens and up. There are a few moments where this movie gets it right, but unfortunately way too few. Because of the predictable story and unappealing characters I didn’t walk away feeling satisfied or uplifted. Instead I was disappointed and a little angry.
On The Official LCJ Report Card, “People Like Us” gets a C-. If these people are like us, we’re all in trouble.