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Plot Summary
From DreamWorks Pictures, the studio that brought you The Help, comes the smart and witty drama People Like Us, featuring an all-star cast, including Chris Pine (Star Trek), Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games), award-winning Michelle Pfeiffer and Olivia Wilde. Sam (Pine) is a twenty-something, fast-talking salesman whose latest deal collapses the day he learns his father has suddenly died. Against his wishes, Sam is called home to put his father’s estate in order and reconnect with his estranged family. While there, he uncovers a startling secret that turns his entire world upside down — he has a 30-year-old sister he never knew existed. This is an inspirational and touching movie everyone can relate to.
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Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
55%- Reviews Counted: 112
- Fresh: 62
- Rotten: 50
- Average Rating: 5.7/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Rotten: The performances, especially Ms. Banks's Frankie and Ms. Pfeiffer's Lillian, partly compensate for the holes in a story whose timing is hard to swallow.
Rotten: The movie's soap opera quality undermines its efforts to tell a family saga with much believability.
Fresh: A sensitive, decent, well-crafted little drama about frailty and forgiveness.
Fresh: Its hard sell wears you down and draws you in, even as you know you're being manipulated.
Customer Reviews
A PLEASANT, IF NOT PREDICTABLE DRAMA
Every year or so, there's usually about two to three feel-good melodramas that go unnoticed by a vast majority of filmgoers. "People Like Us" is one of those movies. I actually didn't even plan on seeing it when it came out, but my girlfriend convinced me to go see it with her, so I did. And it turned out to be much better than I expected, surprisingly enough. Of course, the film has its share of calculated clichés, but with a smart screenplay and a solid cast, it rises above most of its formulaic trappings to become something of a rare sentimental melodrama that really works. The story follows a young hotshot salesman named Sam (Chris Pine) who learns that his father has suddenly passed away. As a result, Sam is reluctantly called back home, where he must put his father's estate back in order and reconnect with his estranged mother. But while fulfilling his dad's last wishes, Sam is taken aback when he discovers he has a 30-year-old sister Frankie (Elizabeth Banks) whom he never knew existed. As their relationship begins to develop, Sam is forced to rethink everything he thought he knew about his family and re-examine his own life choices in the process. I'm not gonna lie, the premise is a bit cheesy and improbable, but Pine and Banks give such great and memorable performances that it's easy to forgive the plot's shortcomings. The humor is engaging, but never laugh-out-loud funny, and the drama is emotionally powerful enough to feel sincere without being too manipulative. The score by A.R. Rahman ("Slumdog Millionaire") is also a nice touch to the film, although it's hardly as recognizable as his past work. To sum it up, "People Like Us" is a respectable, heartwarming drama that only sometimes falters due to its predictable storyline. The acting is straightforward and charming, the screenplay is well written, and the lead characters are genuinely relatable. Is it a must-see movie? I wouldn't say that, but it's a great pick for those who like honest portrayals of people placed in deeply awkward familial situations. At the very least, it's a one-time watch.
Better than reviews
I'm so glad I didn't pass this by based on the bad reviews here. Just when you think you can't take another predictable romance….this is about real family relationships in all it's messiness and goodness. I thought the story was fresh and very well directed. The acting was perfect for the roles. I loved it and I hope others will watch it - bad reviews be damned.
Well Acted, Well Written, Great Story….
This is a well crafted story of how real life sometimes is stranger than fiction …. The characters are real and believable …. Chris Pine has the potential to be the best actor of his generation… his on screen charisma and connection to the characters he plays reminds me of Tom Hanks who can make you believe he is Forest Gump and Charlie Wilson…. Elizabeth Banks is sultry and sweet and vulnerable all at the same time… You feel her pain,… The chemistry she creates on screen with Pine is well played…
Michelle Pifferer is the best I've seen her is a long time… and the kid… is amazing… and real… This is a movie worth your time…
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