After his dad dies, a man is obliged to give a large amount of money to a sister he never knew he had.
Based on a real drama, it evokes the right emotions despite its Hollywood style. Sales… Right off the bat, you get the pressure of selling and then selling some more in a fast-paced montage that increases the tension. And, in the end, for what? You instantly get the answer when Sam (Chris Pine) and Richards (Jon Favreau) meet. Sales…
Anyway, when the pace slows down, the drama kicks in. It then starts speaking volumes of who Sam is and what kind of a relationship he and his family have, revealing the complications with the people considered closest to him. But the pace picks up again with Frankie’s introduction (Elizabeth Banks), offering an upbeat rhythm that relaxes the drama, adds the right comedic elements with her charm, and gets you comfortable on your couch, wanting to see where this is heading and how it is going to end up. The hero’s journey begins with how he will tell her.
There are plenty of montage sequences that can be characterised as too “American”, making it somewhat of a “popcorn” flick, but, personally, I wasn’t distracted by it. The film’s narrative has two significant qualities: As an audience, you know as much as Sam knows, and that is enough to elevate the suspense because we already know that one thing that Frankie doesn’t. Additionally, the delay of resolution only perpetuates the inevitable and adds to the already intensified suspense, giving you enough time to contemplate the depth of the situation everyone is in.
When I first watched it, I found it difficult to believe that the people who wrote and directed it, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, respectively, are the same people behind blockbuster franchises such as Transformers and Star Trek. I didn’t think they could pull off a drama like this, but I was pleasantly surprised, I might say.
Based on true events, People Like Us finds a place in our hearts. Despite its flaws, Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Olivia Wilde compensate plenty enough, and what they are going through, in the end, becomes the relatable sweet and sour story that was promised in the first act. Have a go at it; you won’t regret it. It’ll put a smile on your face as much as it’ll bring you tears.
Lastly, Elizabeth Banks has no reason to get political because she is losing her charm and charisma as an actress. She is very talented and appreciated despite a couple of hits and misses. She is a diverse actress, and I believe she can take on a variety of roles on whatever studios land on her plate.
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