In Good Company Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A middle-aged dad gets a younger boss who starts dating his daughter, leading to awkward family dinners and a crash course in corporate synergy gone wrong.

🍿 In Good Company: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Corporate Takeover and Demotion

Dan Foreman, a successful advertising executive at Sports America magazine, faces upheaval when Globecom, a massive corporation, acquires his company. This leads to significant restructuring, with Dan being demoted and replaced by the much younger Carter Duryea. Dan, a dedicated family man with a pregnant wife and college-bound daughters, must navigate this new corporate landscape while trying to provide for his family.

The New Boss

Carter Duryea, a 26-year-old business prodigy, enters as Dan’s new boss, championing corporate synergy and cross-promotional strategies. He lacks real-world experience in advertising sales, relying on buzzwords and corporate jargon. Carter struggles with his recent divorce and loneliness, clashing with Dan’s traditional, relationship-based approach to sales.

Personal Lives Intertwine

Carter, feeling isolated, invites himself to dinner at Dan’s house, where he meets Dan’s daughter, Alex. A connection sparks between them, leading to a secret romantic relationship. Dan becomes increasingly frustrated with Carter’s corporate-driven decisions at work, especially as he witnesses the firing of his long-time colleagues.

Relationship Fallout

The secret relationship between Carter and Alex is exposed when Dan discovers them dining together. Enraged, Dan confronts them and punches Carter. The revelation and confrontation strain Dan and Alex’s relationship, leading her to break things off with Carter. Professionally, Carter’s ‘synergy’ ideas fail to impress a key client, forcing him to rely on Dan’s expertise to save the account.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid): A seasoned ad executive who faces professional and personal challenges when his company is acquired and a younger boss starts dating his daughter.
• Carter Duryea (Topher Grace): A young, ambitious executive who becomes Dan’s boss and finds himself in a complicated relationship with Dan’s daughter.
• Alex (Scarlett Johansson): Dan’s college-aged daughter who becomes romantically involved with Carter, creating conflict within her family.
• Ann (Marg Helgenberger): Dan’s supportive wife who navigates a late-in-life pregnancy while Dan deals with workplace changes.
• Teddy K (Malcolm McDowell): The reclusive billionaire and head of Globecom, representing the impersonal force of corporate power.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Dan: “You just pick the right one to be in the foxhole with, and then when you’re outside of the foxhole you keep your dick in your pants.” – Dan’s advice to Carter when asked about his successful marriage.
• Dan: “Synergy.” – Said with sarcasm when Carter mentions corporate buzzwords.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $26,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $45,806,659
• Worldwide Gross: $61,315,215

💥 In Good Company Reviews

Personal Review

I absolutely loved this movie! It felt so real, like I was watching people I actually know. The scenes between Dennis Quaid and Scarlett Johansson really got to me—reminded me of my own dad. And Topher Grace was surprisingly good, made me actually care about a corporate guy. It’s one of those movies that sticks with you.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of dramedies”
  • “Viewers interested in corporate culture”
  • “People who enjoy character-driven stories”
  • “Fans of Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, and Scarlett Johansson”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Brief strong language”
  • “Implied sexual content”
  • “Themes of job loss and corporate restructuring”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “In Good Company delicately balances humor and drama, offering a surprisingly insightful look at corporate culture and the evolving relationships between generations. The performances are genuine, and the film avoids easy clichés.
• IMDB: “This movie had a good solid story of a middle-aged man dealing with both supporting his family and keeping his job (bordering on a mid-life crisis), and a young man dealing with a new job, being alone, and finding what he actually wants to do with the rest of his life.
• New York Times: “While the premise sounds like a sitcom setup, ‘In Good Company’ rises above with its sharp writing and believable characters. Quaid and Grace deliver strong performances, making the generational clash both funny and poignant.

Audience Reactions

The relatable family dynamic and heartfelt moments resonated with many viewers.: Audiences praised the performances of the lead actors and the film’s ability to balance comedy and drama.

Topher Grace’s surprising performance was a highlight for many.: Many viewers found the film to be surprisingly insightful and thought-provoking.

Overall Consensus: A well-acted, thoughtful comedy-drama that explores corporate life and generational differences with heart and humor.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Ashton Kutcher was originally cast as Carter Duryea but dropped out due to creative differences.”
• “Topher Grace had to convince director Paul Weitz that he was right for the role of Carter by highlighting his upbringing by his father, a businessman with sharp negotiation skills.”

🖥️ How to Watch In Good Company?

In Good Company is available for streaming on platforms such as Prime Video and Apple TV, where it can be rented or purchased. Check local listings for availability on other streaming services. You can also find it to rent or buy on platforms like YouTube and Google Play Movies.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed In Good Company, you might like these similar films:

• The Apartment (1960): Explores the themes of corporate ambition and personal relationships, with a focus on the human cost of career advancement.
• About a Boy (2002): Also directed by Paul Weitz, it features an unlikely friendship between characters of different generations, dealing with themes of maturity and finding purpose.
• Up in the Air (2009): Focuses on corporate downsizing and the emotional impact on employees, similar to the layoffs in ‘In Good Company’.

🛒 In Good Company Related Products

• In Good Company [Blu-ray]: Own the film in high definition for the best viewing experience, complete with bonus features and behind-the-scenes content.
• In Good Company Movie Poster: High-quality reproduction of the original movie poster. A great addition to any movie fan’s collection, perfect for decorating home theaters or offices.
• Corporate Strategy Board Game: Channel your inner corporate strategist in this engaging board game that puts you in the driver’s seat of a Fortune 500 company.
• “Synergy” Motivational Office Desk Sign: Inspired by the corporate buzzword in the movie, this novelty desk sign is a humorous gift for anyone working in a corporate environment.

🎧 Soundtrack

In Good Company features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Glass, Concrete & Stone” – performed by David Byrne

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

In Good Company (7/10) Movie CLIP – Are You Sleeping With Him? (2004) HD

This clip is intense! Watch as Dennis Quaid confronts Topher Grace in a hilariously awkward and surprisingly heated scene. You won’t believe what happens next!

In Good Company (3/10) Movie CLIP – Synchronize and Synergize (2004) HD

Ever wonder what corporate buzzwords *really* mean? Topher Grace delivers a masterclass in corporate speak in this hilarious clip, and the reactions are priceless! It’s satire at its finest.

In Good Company (1/10) Movie CLIP – Meeting in the Elevator (2004) HD

Want to see how it all started? This elevator scene is key to the whole movie, it’s really interesting to see their characters at the very beginning.

✨ Rate