Review: 'In Good Company'

Premise: Corporate dramedy?
Pros: Likeable characters
Cons: Little predictable
Do 18-year-old NYU writing students routinely seduce their father's boss, them dump them because they have a double major and, are like, just 'too busy' to cope. Yeah, and we're not talking about Paris Hilton (because she's not smart enough to attend college). No, this is Scarlett Johansson, who plays Alex with such aplomb and Johannson-honey that we love her even though she's, well, 18 and kinda selfish.

Topher Grace, I predict (like anyone listens to me), as the next sensitive-witty breakout star. Here he leaves behind That '70s Show Eric Forman to play a likeable corporate whiz-kid sent to increase sales in the wake of a whim corporate takeover. Dennis Quaid is the 'old guy,' who is, of course, more sales and life smart than Grace and provides him with a little back-off-and-let-the-big-boy-do-it wisdom. Quaid is especially charming (even at 50) as he juggles his family and job responsibilities, struggling with finances for his two girls, his wife (Marg Helgenberger go back to CSI), and his little flock of sales employees who are quickly being fired out from under him, from -- you guessed it -- Mr. Sales himself, Topher Grace, et al.

Anyone who works in the corporate world (Office Space anyone?) can identify with the seedy business practices within which the characters find themselves caught: job security out the window, cost cutting, unethical pandering, the all important 'bottom line,' blah blah blah. It's a little disturbing considering how true it is. Even Johannson's dream to get 'Bohemian' and live in the city to study short story writing comes with a hefty tuition. And, Grace, amidst all this (did I mention his 911 Porsche?) starts to learn what is really important in life: family, loyalty and accepting his status in life as a smart geek who is better than his flashy sales pitch, better than his gaudy ex-wife, and better than his Johannson's fling (ok, they can still be friends, they're cute together).

Overall, likeable characters... Grace really brings some charm to what could be a really smarmy guy.