I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Dennis Quaid is an actor I've pretty much tried to ignore over the years. It may be that the movies he selected to appear in did not usually appeal to me. However, there have been a couple of films lately -- including this film -- that has made me re-look at Quaid...and I'm becoming more and more impressed.Also, I looked at Topher Grace as that kid on a television series I didn't care for. But I'm impressed with him here. Gotta reexamine that too! Scarlett Johansson is lovely and a fine actress. Just 20 when she made this film, she is racking up quite a list of films to her credit. I can see why.Clark Gregg is good here as a sort of shyster executive. And I always appreciate David Paymer...here as a down-and-out (or is he) ad man.In terms of the story, it's a pretty decent one. A new company buys up a sports magazine and put Topher Grace in charge, even though he's younger and not very experience. Upheavals come, and he begins to look at one of the old-timers (although he's only 52 in the move...Quaid) as a father figure...but also falls in love with Quaid's daughter. Quite a dilemma for Quaid. The one thing in this movie that I really fault is whether it would be very likely that Quaid's character would be quite so abrasive and on the verge of quitting when he has just taken out a second mortgage on his house and his wife is having a baby; not very likely...although it makes the story work.Recommended. I really enjoyed it.

This is a clever film. It's set in New York, but it's not a New York film. There's a strong lovestory at its centre but its not a romance. The screwball twist in place at the start has a yuppie as boss to an old-timer but the comedy never spins off beyond the congenial. I like that it's unusual without being cranky.Paul Weitz manages the film very well with this sidestepping of expectation - but without dampening the powder of the premise. It's a funny film, a good script punched out credibly by the good cast. Quaid and Johansson are utterly secure in their rather more conventionally dramatic turns - Grace must shoulder the burden of the comedy which he does with a necessary if wearing excess of energy. There's plenty of good support including a brief but interesting cameo from Malcolm MacDowell whose equivocal father figure is a quietly pivotal moment on screen. 6/10

"Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid) is a loving husband, caring father, and star ad executive. But now, life is putting him through the ultimate test. Carter Duryea (Topher Grace), a young hotshot half his age, has just become his boss. And to complicate matters, Dan discovers Carter is dating his daughter (Scarlett Johansson). It's filled with genuine laughs and you're in good company when you watch this entertaining comedy that 'Rolling Stone' calls 'hilarious'," according to the DVD sleeve."Rolling Stone" is wrong; the humor in this film not "hilarious". Although he tries, Mr. Quaid can't make lines like "Only my wife is allowed to touch me there!" funny, and Mr. Grace's borderline kid/adult talk is just embarrassing. The dorm poster advertising: "Marijuana (Because Your Friends Just Aren't Very Funny)" may be good advice, concerning the comedy part of this comedy/drama.Writer/director Paul Weitz and his cast do much better with the dramatic portions, which take over by the third act. Although, by then, it's too little, too late. When Quaid and Grace hug, you wonder where the good story went. It should have ended with Quaid receiving the son he wanted, but in an unexpected way… ***** In Good Company (12/6/04) Paul Weitz ~ Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, Scarlett Johansson

Dan Foreman is a middle-aged man working as a sales executive in a sports magazine's ad department.His life seems good.He has a loving wife and he has a good relationship with his two teenage daughters.And also his wife, Ann starts expecting the third child.Then one day everything changes.There happens a corporate takeover and Dan's being placed by a 26-year old Carter Duryea.And this young fellow starts going out with his 18- year old daughter Alex, who goes to college.In Good Company (2004) is directed by Paul Weitz.Dennis Quaid is in a really good shape in his role as Dan.Topher Grace is very good as Carter.Topher reminds me a little bit of the young Michael J. Fox, who became known for playing that yuppie type in the 80's.Selma Blair plays his wife Kimberly who divorces him.Scarlett Johansson shines as Alex.Same thing with Zena Grey, who plays her sister Jana.Marg Helgenberger is terrific as Dan's wife Ann.David Paymer plays Morty who gets laid off.He is very good at the suffering man's part.Clark Cregg plays Mark Steckle and he's good.Philip Baker Hall is brilliant as Eugene Kalb.Malcolm McDowell is the big man Teddy K.I enjoyed watching this comedy/drama very much.Now you go and watch it and enjoy it like I did.