‘People Like Us’ is a heartfelt drama that seems to touch everyone that watches it. I recently was sent a copy of this movie to review and I am so glad that I was chosen! I had never seen (or truthfully even heard of ‘People Like Us’) but when I saw in the press release that it was from the same studio that made ‘The Help’ and that it had some great actors, including Chris Pine (Star Trek), Elizabeth Banks (Hunger Games), Olivia Wilde (Tron) and Michelle Pfeiffer (Dark Shadows), I was intrigued. This film unfortunately did not generate a lot of talk but it did get good reviews. My recommendation…if you have not seen ‘People Like Us’ and you like touching dramas then watch this movie.

As the Story Goes…

The storyline is inspired by true life events about Sam (Chris Pines) who is a smooth talking salesman that learns his father has died. Sam receives the news from his girlfriend Hannah (Olivia Wilde) which leaves him with mixed emotions since his father and him have always had a strained relationship. Regardless, Sam attends the funeral and reunites with his difficult mother, Lillian (Michelle Pfeiffer) and finds out life changing news that he was not prepared to deal with at the time. His father left him $150,000 in his shaving kit, which comes none to soon for Sam, but there is a catch. The money comes with instructions to deliver the cash to an 11-year-old named Josh, who happens to be the son of Frankie (Elizabeth Banks), a half- sister he didn’t know about.

The movie is somewhat dark and gritty, definitely a “true to life” type film, and it may take a minute or two to hook you, but once it does you will want to watch and see what happens to these characters and you are cheering for them the whole time.

The acting in the movie was amazing, clearly with these well-known respected actors it was expected; but, from the main characters to the supporting roles there was not anyone ill cast, in my opinion.