In Good Company
Considering I didn't see a single preview or any publicity for this flick, didn't even know it had come and gone from Australian cinemas (if indeed it was there at all) it was strange that for some reason I was genuinely excited about this flick. I had read up on it seemingly years ago when the script was green-lighted and after its American release I had heard mixed things through my trusty friend Bob Internet, but still held out faith that it could be a surprising little nugget hidden within the towering wall of New Release turds.
So what was it that had me so eagerly anticipating it? Maybe it was that director Paul Weitz surprised the balls off me with About a Boy – a film adaptation of Nick Hornby's that I was overjoyed that he didn't stuff up. Hugh Grant was in career best form in what I can only classify as a ‘boy chick-flick', if you know what I mean. (I would put Horby's High Fidelity also in the same just-made-up category.) Who expected such a great effort from the guy who made American Pie ? (Although I also enjoyed that quite a bit for reasons I will neglect to mention here – I don't have to defend myself to you, or anyone, so back off, big buddy.)
Maybe I was looking forward to it because I had heard this was Weitz's take on the business world, primed to pull no punches when it came to taking shots at inane corporate bullshit. Buzzwords such as ‘synergy' and corporate reshuffling and all that crap. The immature teen still dominant in me had identified somewhat with the teen boys in American Pie (or wanted to – I mean who doesn't wish they went to an American high school prom?). The male utopian lifestyle led by Hugh Grant's character in About a Boy perfectly nailed the bachelor-commitment free lifestyle some of us that may or may not be me may or may not secretly want to lead. Now I have never worked in a corporate environment, but thanks to horror stories from friends, and my always-alert nicely-refined bullshit-detector I know it's one I would struggle with, so I maybe I was looking forward to this film to prove me right.
Or, maybe I was looking forward to it because of Dennis Quaid's slight resurgence (post Meg) has been somewhat impressive? Or that Topher Grace's maturity as an actor and easy transition to the big screen is an interesting career to monitor? Or, that Scarlett Johansson's ass is….
Mmhhmmmpphh.
Ahem. Maybe it was a mix of all of the above (although certainly some factors had a greater influence than others. Some of us are yet to get past the opening few frames of Lost in Translation .).
Whatever it was, I was elated to stumble upon it recently whilst walking 5 kilometers past all the New Release copies of Hitch at my local Blockbuster and rushed home to watch it – and suddenly I became fully aware that all this unsubstantiated excitement I had harbored for so long about this film could very easily backfire.
All these reasons why I could have been eager to see this film suddenly turned into doubts as I sat down that winter's night and chucked the disc in the player –I mean, sure About a Boy was gold, but didn't Paul Weis also make that shitfest Chris Rock comedy Down to Earth ? Dennis Quaid may have been in some good films lately, but has he ever really truly been great in anything? Topher Grace has the first name ‘Topher' and stars in a TV show that introduced Ass-ton Kutcher to the world. And Scarlett Johansson's ass is so damn fine that it could impede me from watching any further in the film should it appear. With a swig of my trusty brew I banished these thoughts from my head and promised myself I would forget all the possible good and bad points the film could have. I promised myself I would sit there with an open mind, and judge the film on its own merits, not expectations I may have unfairly cast upon it.
And so, with these promises to myself I sat and I watched. And you know what?
It was just okay.