People Like Us review

After the death of his father, Sam (Chris Pine), a young man from New York, is forced to face his family after years of estrangement. Motivated by the hope of a large pay out in his father’s will to cover his personal debt, he travels to his hometown to stay with his mother for the funeral.

However, his plans soon change when it turns out the only thing his Dad left him, was an old leather, shaving bag. Inside the bag are instructions for Sam to leave all his father’s money to a boy named Josh. Intrigued as to who this Josh is, Sam investigates and (rather quickly) discovers that Josh is in fact the son of his half sister (Elizabeth Banks), whom he has never met.

Despite a talented support cast, including Michelle Pfeiffer and Olivia Wilde, and undeniably good performances all round, the film never really seems to pick-up. It has an interesting concept, but it doesn’t really seem to be gritty enough to be the hard-hitting, emotional film it is so clearly, trying to be. It had the premise to be the new family drama, similar to the style carved out by films such as Sunshine Cleaning and Blue Valentine, but doesn’t quite achieve their smartness. If all the actors were nobodies, the expectations for this movie may not be so high; in which case, it may not have been such a disappointment. But in this instance, it is so certain that they all could have made it better, so it’s only fair to look at the script and direction as a negative.

However, unfortunately, the biggest downfall is the lead, Chris Pine. It’s evident he doesn’t have the depth to portray troubled Sam. His character has so many facets, changing swiftly as Sam goes on a journey from cocky salesman to considerate family man, and it proves to be slightly beyond reach of his acting abilities.

Elizabeth Banks as Frankie

Pfeiffer, in an unusually small part of an actress of her stature, barely makes an appearance as Sam’s sick mother who is struggling to come to terms with her husband’s death. Perhaps if they had explored her character a little further, and let Pfeiffer do her work, the film may have fared a little better. But alas, it didn’t, which left the last salvable parts of People Like Us to Banks, whose performance as an alcoholic, working mum is undoubtedly the most convincing throughout. The fact that she manages to bounce off stiff Pine so well proves her worth in the acting stakes. She singlehandedly saves the film from being a complete, sickly sweet flop, and there is no doubt, that the fact that our rating is above a two is merit to her performance alone.