The Company Men (Review)

There’s nothing particularly wrong with John Wells’ The Company Men. There’s just nothing mind-blowing about it either. It’s not particularly bold or adventurous, but it does what it sets out to do with admirable efficiency. It’s about life in the recession, featuring a collection of good performances by some of Hollywood’s best old white guys (plus Ben Affleck). It may not make any profound statements about the economy, but as a portrait of a few characters that go from having everything to very little, you could probably do worse.

Affleck plays Bobby Walker, an employee of a major company who becomes a victim of downsizing. Within minutes after the film begins, he’s gone from a six-figure salary to no job whatsoever. For months after the firing he refuses to admit defeat. His wife wants to cut back, maybe move out of their expensive house, but Affleck wants to maintain the illusion of wealth. He still goes to the country club, he still eats out, and he still wears the nice suit. He wants to stay on his high horse despite the fact it bucked him off.

He’s not the only one that ends up fired. Eventually his co-workers (and superiors) join him in unemployment, including characters played by Tommy Lee Jones and Chris Cooper. Jones seems to be content just to call it a career and relax the rest of his life. Cooper, however, is much more disturbed, and it isn’t long before he starts going to the bars and drinking himself into oblivion.

Not much more can be said without spoiling some of the later developments, which range from the intriguing to the silly. (In the case of one character, there’s a dark turn that seems unnecessary.) That said; don’t expect The Company Men to be a twisty-turny thrill ride. Usually it’s quiet and moderately involving, and rare is the moment when a character raises their voice too loudly.

Frankly, while the characters’ stories are interesting, it’s awfully hard to sympathize with some of these upper-class white dudes who’ve had so much for so long. Affleck’s character is often frustrating, as he refuses to accept the situation he’s in until it’s a bit too late. When he comes back down to Earth he becomes a bit more relatable, so by the end the audience ends up rooting for him rather than screaming at him.

The Company Men was written and directed by John Wells, making his feature film debut. He’s long been a television powerhouse, as he’s been the show runner for such shows as ER, Third Watch, and the post-Sorkin seasons of The West Wing. There’s a television feel to The Company Men, which could be perceived as a complaint, but I think it’s the way the story was meant to be told. There are very few stylistic flourished, but Wells directs with a sure hand none the less. It’s feasible he could have a future in film, even though he still remains involved in various television shows.

In fact, The Company Men might have made for a great television series rather than a merely good movie. When it feels like only weeks have passed by, it’s revealed that it’s been months. These characters are interesting, and it might have been advantageous to chronicle their lives over the course of several weeks rather than 100 minutes. That said, Wells could not have gotten this cast together for a mere television series, and when it’s over there isn’t a weak link in all the performances. (Affleck in particular continues to grow as an actor.) The Company Men is a relatively simple yet interesting time at the movies. It isn’t particularly mean or ambitious, and it won’t haunt your dreams for days to come, but sometimes it’s refreshing to just sit back and watch a well-acted and well-made drama such as this.

Rating:  (out of 4)