People Like Us

People Like Us

Rating 6.5 out of 10

In a Summer movie season where most go boom or shoot web from their wrists this is a smaller "people" movie.  It won't change your life or even make you want to see it multiple times, but if you like movies like this you will be glad you saw it.  If nothing else it gets you in a cool air conditioned theater with a comfortable seat.  Overpriced popcorn is optional.

The movie is mostly well acted with a pretty good cast for this small of a movie.  Chris Pine plays Sam.  He is a mover and shaker smooth talking salesman type with the pretty girlfriend (Olivia Wilde) that he can't commit to. When his estranged dad passes away he doesn't even want to go to the funeral.  He was a bad father who had little to do with him ever.  Michelle Pfeiffer plays mom who is there try to defend dad and smooth the bad feelings between the two.

In the will the family lawyer hands Sam a shaving kit that turns out to be full of $100 bills.  Unfortunately there is a note in there too that says the money is for a sister he never knew he had.  Frankie was birthed by another woman and they never met even though they lived in the same city.  Frankie is played by Elizabeth Banks.  I'm not usually a fan of Liz but she does a good job here as the single mom just trying to get by.

Sam really does not want to give her the money.  He decides to meet her not telling who he is to decide if she is worthy.  Somehow he likes the shaggy headed smart mouth teenage son.  I don't know what it is about Hollywood and teenagers.  This father of five just wanted to give the kid a haircut!  Anyway...

You can probably guess most of the rest of the story but it doesn't matter.  It's a nice little story that is well acted and worth a look.