In Good Company, Universal Pictures’ newest release, deals with something that is quite real in America today, the threat of corporate downsizing on the American family. The film also deals with what is of true value at the end of the day; a good family.
Writer/Director, Paul Weiz, likes movies about real people in real life situations, as well as making films with his brother, Chris. Paul recently took time to talk with movie reviewer, Paula K. Parker, about quality films and quality families.
Paula K. Parker: What made you want to write this particular story?
Paul Weitz: This is the kind of film that Hollywood has - to some degree - given up on; a comedy about real life situations and real people. I think that is partly due to the fact that they’re hard to do well. It’s the kind of film that I used to love to watch, the old Billy Wilder films, the great comedies of the ‘30s and ‘40s. It’s a wonderful thing to really laugh at stuff that’s not having to do with animated characters or special effects.
The last film I did with my brother (Chris Weitz, who produces In Good Company) was About a Boy; that was a very British film that starred Hugh Grant. I wanted to find something that was happening here in America. I had heard some stories about people I knew, who were at a point where they had a lot of experience in their jobs – when they were getting around age 50 – where suddenly those jobs were in jeopardy.
The idea of this 50-year-old guy – played by Dennis Quaid – suddenly having a 26-year-old boss and he’s worried about losing his job, I thought was a funny way of talking about something that is in our culture.
PKP: In the conversations with your friends, did any of them have an experience like that, where they were demoted in favor of a younger person?
Paul Weitz: Yes, I think it’s really common, that people get demoted or fired. What happens a lot when a company gets bought is that the people with the most experience are the people who have a bigger paycheck; so it’s very tempting for the new company to fire them.
I myself, as a new director coming up, have been in the situation that Topher Grace – he plays the younger guy, who is the boss – is in, where he is not sure if he can do this job or not. It’s also a little embarrassing for him to be ordering around Dennis Quaid. What makes matters worse is that he ends up falling in love with Quaid’s daughter, played by Scarlett Johansson.
PKP: I know we are talking about something that is real in our culture, but – without getting specific – did you have anything in the movie that came from true life?
Paul Weitz: Yes. In the movie, Dennis Quaid and his wife – who is played by Marg Helgenberger – have two daughters, ages 18 and 16, They are shocked to learn in the beginning of the movie that she [Marg Helenberger’s character] is pregnant. Quaid is not sure what it will be like to be a new dad again and he is worried about it.
I remember talking to my dad [fashion designer/writer John Weitz] who was a bit older when he had my brother and me. He told me that he was in that situation, where he was real excited, but he was nervous about whether he had what it takes to go through being a dad again.
PKP: Everything I’m hearing from you sounds like this movie deals a lot with family relationships, whether we’re talking blood family or family-like relationships at work. Is this true?
Paul Weitz: Absolutely; and a funny situation in the movie is that the boss is a young guy and his life is in a shamble. Then you see the older guy, his employee, who has a great home life and the younger guy wants somehow to get in on that.
I think the movie is also about you have your work, but you also have things in your life that you can’t control; but if you are able to build a solid family base, then you are in pretty good shape as a human being.
PKP: So it basically comes down to what is important at the end of the day.
Paul Weitz: Absolutely, and how you can conduct yourself with dignity. One reason I liked having Dennis Quaid in it is that – for me – he represents sort of an All-American figure. A guy who is a good guy and gets up and goes to work everyday.
PKP: You have a little experience in that you work with your brother Chris on several projects. Working with family can have both advantages and disadvantages. Have you found that to be true in your life?
Paul Weitz: Absolutely. The good thing is that you always have somebody who is going to be on your side. The tough thing is that after you work with somebody for a whole day, you don’t really want to hang out with them and go see a movie. It’s hard to keep the friendship going well sometimes.
It’s really great; if you had asked me, when I was a kid, what I’d like to do when I grow up, I would have said, “I’d like to work with my brother and make comedy movies.”
PKP: That is amazing! You don’t find that kind of commitment to family much these days.
Paul Weitz: No and you know, another thing was, when I was writing this script, I had no idea that, by the time I started shooting, I would have my daughter. I had my first child about a month before we started shooting. While I was writing the script, I was looking in these books about what it would be like to have a newborn, and then I was in the thick of it when I actually started working on it.
PKP: So that was a surprise for you.
Paul Weitz: It sure was. Well, it wasn’t a complete surprise, but it was a nice coincidence.
PKP: Your brother is quoted as saying that you, “…were really intent on telling this story and that his first role was as a soundboard for your ideas and to encourage you on the writing process.” He goes on to say that, “…being less involved on this project was a blessing for him as it was a lower stress level.”
Paul Weitz: (laughing) Well, directing can certainly be stressful. But I really enjoy it. When you’re directing, you’re surrounded by a couple of hundred people on the crew who are asking you questions all day.
It’s a great lesson, because you quickly learn that it doesn’t matter that you always make the right decision, but it’s really important that you make some decision quickly. And I’m not the best at that in my everyday life. I had a hard time figuring out where to go to lunch (laughs) but I enjoy making the big decisions on the set.
PKP: So, when you’re working with your brother – I know working with family, there are going to be times you’re going to butt heads…
Paul Weitz: Absolutely…
PKP: …so do you run to Mom and say, “Mom! He won’t let me have my way!”
Paul Weitz: (laughing) Yeah, we always joke that Mom is going to be the tie-breaker in arguments. I think that what we really try to do is apologize to each other as quickly as possible after we have gotten into a big fight. And don’t forget to be polite to the persons that you are closest to. And because everybody gets their feelings hurt sometimes, I think it’s good to get it over with quickly.
In Good Company is rated PG-13 for some sexual content and drug references.