The first time I saw a trailer for People Like Us on TV I knew I just had to see the movie. At that time we barely went to the theater because its just too expensive and we didn’t have the time. Since then my husband and I have made it a priority to spend quality time together and go on “dates”. My husband takes the day off from work and we go to a movie matinee and out to lunch. It’s great to see movies as they are released and not months later.
I’m sorry that I was unable to see People Like Us when it was first released but I’m thrilled that I was finally able to see it. The movie is currently available on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, Digital Download and On Demand.
People Like Us stars Chris Pine (Star Trek), Elizabeth Banks (Hunger Games), Olivia Wilde (Tron) and Michelle Pfeiffer (Dark Shadows) and Michael Hall D’Addario.
Here is the movie’s trailer. If you are reading this via e-mail you can see the trailer here, http://bit.ly/TjEZyI.
Sam (Pine) is a slick talking pitch man who tries to barter products and services with different companies. He doesn’t really think things through which ends up getting him into serious trouble and eventually he loses his job. Sam experiences another loss too – the loss of his estranged father. Sam really didn’t have a great relationship with his father and is not keen on attending his funeral. Sam felt like his father cared more about his music then he did him.
Sam has no choice but to visit his mother (and the urging of his girlfriend Hannah played by Olivia Wilde).
Sam and his mother apparently have a fractured relationship too and don’t really talk to each other. Sam doesn’t want to stay with his mother any longer than he has to. He just wants to make an appearance and leave. Not only that he’s in serious trouble with the government and needs to get back to take care of it.
Sam is asked to meet with his father’s lawyer behind his mother’s back. His father’s lawyer hands Sam a shaving kit case containing $150,000. Also inside is a note with the instructions to give the money to someone name Josh, an address and a request to “take care of them”.
Sam has no idea who Josh is. He goes to the address only to find out that Josh is a child. He also sees the boy’s mother. Sam assumes that she was her father’s mistress and the boy is his son.
Angry at the thought his father cheated with the young woman he decides to keep the money for himself to help pay off his legal problems. Hannah gets angry for him even suggesting that and leaves him to return back home.
Curious about who Josh is, Sam begins to follow his mother around. Her name is Frankie and she’s about the same age as Sam. Sam eventually talks to Frankie (Banks) and learns that his father was also HER father. Another words, she is his sister and Josh is his nephew.
At first Sam is angry but as time goes on and he spends more and more time with Frankie and Josh, he starts to really care about them. He wants to tell Frankie who he is but after learning about how his father treated her. Frankie wanted a relationship with their father but he was cold towards her and eventually shut her out of his life.
Sam and Frankie share stories about their father (Frankie not knowing that Sam is really her brother). Sam told Frankie about how his father would take him to the park and let him play there alone while he stayed in the car and took care of business. Frankie told Sam how he used to take her and her mother on picnics and then one day just stopped coming over. Her mother continued to take her on picnics.
A lot of things happen with Frankie and her son, Sam and his mom and Sam and his girlfriend. Their stories really tug at your heart strings.
Will Frankie find out the truth about her father, and about Sam? Does Sam’s mom know about his half sister? Will Sam give the money to Josh that his father left him? To find out you need to pick up a copy of People Like Us, or rent it on Movies on Demand.
I loved this movie. It was a bit “deep” and it really got to me emotionally. I think the best part of the movie comes at the very end. I don’t want to tell you what happens but lets just say my eyes welled up with tears. The ending scene really brings Sam and Frankie together and shows them something about their father that they never knew. It was truly a emotional scene.
The characters were very likable and convincing. You could truly feel their anguish and pain over how their lives turned out, thanks to their father.
The film is based on a true story. I’m curious to learn more about the real life Sam and Frankie and how their relationship is today.
Michael Hall D’Addario who plays Frankie’s son Josh did a wonderful job. I think they did a great job casting him as a young man who has some “issues” that he needs to deal with, especially when it comes to his relationship with his mother.
This a touching film that examines what is family and what it means to different people.
The film is rated PG-13. I didn’t see anything wrong with it except some references to alcoholism. It’s not a “chick flick” either. I think men would enjoy the film just as much as women.
There are plenty of bonus features on the Blu-ray combo pack.
BONUS FEATURES:
Blu-ray Combo Pack:
- Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Alex Kurtzman and Actors Chris Pine and Elizabeth Banks
- Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Alex Kurtzman and Actress Michelle Pfeiffer
- Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Alex Kurtzman and Writers Roberto Orci and Jody Lambert
- Number One with a Bullet: The Story Behind “People Like Us”
- Taco Talk: Extended Henry’s Taco Scene
- Deleted Scenes
- Bloopers
DVD:
- Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Alex Kurtzman and Actors Chris Pine and Elizabeth Banks
- Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Alex Kurtzman and Actress Michelle Pfeiffer
Digital
- Number One with a Bullet: The Story Behind “People Like Us”
- Taco Talk: Extended Henry’s Taco Scene
- Deleted Scenes
- Bloopers
On-Demand
- No bonus available
I liked the bonus feature Number One with a Bullet: The Story Behind People Like Us. I always enjoy learning all the behind the scenes stuff about movies as well as the “how” and “why” a movie came to be.
I always enjoy seeing deleted scenes too and imagine if they would have changed the film if they were left in.
Bloopers are always fun. I usually watch the bloopers before any other bonus feature.
Look for People Like Us where ever movies are sold.
Here are a few clips from the film for your enjoyment. The first one is one of my favorite scenes.
If you are reading this via e-mail you will need to visit She Scribes to view the clips.
*I received a free screener copy in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced in any way.
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