People Like Us

Writer/director Alex Kurtzman knew that his father had been married before and had other children. Separated by age and distance, the siblings never met till he bumped into his sister at a party and she introduced herself. This personal situation was the inspiration for Kurtzman‘s film “People Like Us.”

We are told this film is "based on a true story," but having a separate family is just the start of things, so (like usually in these cases probably) it is silly even to toss that out there.  As adults, or even somewhat mature children, we learn about imperfections in life, and settle on things.  So, even stuff really meant to be mostly accurate isn't totally so.  We need to remember that sort of thing when watching docudrama, not just biblical type films. Then, there are those things where fact was merely a sort of launching pad.  "True story" is not quite what is at issue. 

The details of the two "families," the issue of a large inheritance that is haphazardly provided (one review that liked the film overall noted certain aspects just had to be taken on faith; this was one of them)  and probably other stuff was fictionalized.  This is seen when Elizabeth Banks* on the commentary track [MP has her own track; nice to see her in the film] asks the writer/director why her character was made an alcoholic and he wasn't totally sure.  You know, it is not like his sister was one, that's why.

This is a flawed film that works as a whole, more or less.  The basic story of a young guy struggling with his life that finds out about a half-sister and needs to make a choice and in the process in effect grow up works well.  The other characters' stories also do as well, including his mother (a somewhat unwritten role), girlfriend and the struggles of his half-sister / her troubled son.  Various details don't really do it for me.  After awhile, the brother holding back what he knows comes off a bit stupid (also, shades of those films where the guy knows something, the female character coming off as weaker in response, like You Got Mail). Also, Banks' character is good as a whole, but as a whole is a bit rough.

Still, there is a lot here with some nice / powerful details.  One thing that is particularly striking is the brother/sister relationship (the uncle/nephew relationship has a nice touch too).  The Disney show Wizards of Waverly Place is a case in point there -- as noted on the message board at IMDB, there are various Alex/Justin highlights where their special relationship is expressed.  They fight and all but we clearly see how they love and care about each other.  It is one those "this matters" points in what is still meant to be basically simple entertainment that gives weight to the show.

The weird thing about the film is that if you didn't know their relationship, the two characters here look like love interests (you know, not this kind).  On the commentary track, Banks (her usual smart sexy self) alluded to a shot of her taking off a boot while the brother watched that was not included since it just looked too sexual.  Brings to mind Moll Flanders, where the ONE thing she just couldn't do, even though it could have led to a happy life, was to marry someone who in fact was a long last brother.  Almost as weird, the fact he would otherwise be a logical love interest was not a major issue for the Banks character. She was open to it at times, but the thing that mattered to her more was their clear special connection.

So, like many independent films, messy but worthwhile as a whole.  The acting is good too, including various small roles. Olivia Wilde does well in a small role as the girlfriend.  Good commentary tracks too -- as noted, one focused on MP's performance and a general one with the two leads and the writer/director. The director has an impressive c.v.,** but this is basically his first work in this role though he did a bit of t.v. directing.  A lot is here, and like my old philosophy with respect to school work, net okay, just some messiness. 

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* She has a good website and Twitter feed. Her Wikipedia entry includes this interesting tidbit about her life:

Banks met her husband, sportswriter and producer Max Handelman, on her first day at college on September 6, 1992. They were married in 2003. She was raised in a family of both Irish Catholic and Anglo-Saxon Protestant background, and has converted to Judaism, her husband's faith.  She and her husband welcomed their first child, Felix, who was born via a surrogate in March 2011.

Her hubby has a book out about fantasy football.

** Trivia tidbit: he was an executive producer in Star Trek (remake) and his star here played James T. Kirk there.