People like Us

Real-life events are the inspiration for this unusually forthright drama about a slick salesman (Chris Pine) trying to get in touch with his feelings. Pine makes a smooth transition from being annoying to engaging as Sam, who not only handles the news of his estranged father's death badly, but then also has to deal with the shocking revelation that he has a half-sister, Frankie (a hard-nosed Elizabeth Banks), with a claim to the estate. His concerned mother (subtly played by Michelle Pfeiffer) struggles to understand his erratic behaviour and Frankie is also oblivious to what's going on. She misinterprets the nature of Sam's interest in her, and co-writer/director Alex Kurtzman makes this development the crux of the story. Tension builds as Sam becomes more involved in Frankie's life and that of her son (Michael Hall D'Addario), but Kurtzman focuses on this so much that it feels less like real life and more of a soap opera. A few laughs alleviate the burden, but it's the performances, rather than script or direction, that keep the film anchored to some kind of reality.