Review: In Good Company

Telling the truth, when everyone is being vague or deceitful, can be a revolutionary act.
Finding someone real, no, someone genuine, when everyone around you is artificial, is precious and valuable. That's what this film is like. The first movie I have seen in a long time that actually conveys values, and principles, whilst being entertaining and light and difficult and funny at the same time. This is because it renders life so well.

I studied advertising, so I can appreciate when people crawl into their chameleon skin, and when they have the courage to say what they really think or believe. Much of advertising, including advertising people talking to advertising people, is spin. There's lots of adspeak, like: you rock, and love ya, and this is money. Nothing really exists unless someone says it does, and things are twisted and untwisted to make sense out of nonsense. You know, however you twist it, you can't make sense of nonsense. If you really think about it, how can you really sell Coca Cola, a nonsense drink, full of poison. You find some nonsense that looks attractive. You make a nice song, and nice people smiling, or polar bears or santa claus looking like the world is a happier place with this product in it. Have you ever thought about it? Is it really?
Sodas are one of the main culprits behind obesity, tooth decay, mood swings and getting distracted....where was I?

Living as an expat for an extended length of time, in a foreign country, as I've done, also creates a desire for meaningful relationships and conversations. This film is about the value of meaningful communication, and not just blather and sucking up to hype (epitomised by Teddy K).

So what you'll like about this movie is how the young advertising guy learns from the always likable Dennis Quaid how to be a genuine person.
How the daughter, Scarlett Johanson makes some grown up decisions.
And how puffed up and shallow people in the office, in time, lose their place to real people, with real ideas, who produce real hard work and real results in a real life.

Carter Duryea: Dan, you seem to have the perfect marriage. How do you do it?
Dan Foreman: You just pick the right one to be in the foxhole with, and then when you're outside of the foxhole you keep your dick in your pants.
Carter Duryea: That's poetic.