In Good Company | Corporate Dramedy

This week on Forgotten Cinema, we’re diving back into the mid-2000s with In Good Company, the Dennis Quaid / Topher Grace / Scarlett Johansson workplace dramedy that tries to balance corporate satire with heartfelt character storytelling.

And honestly? We like this one quite a bit.

There’s a genuine warmth to the film that still works nearly twenty years later. It taps into the anxieties of a shifting corporate culture, downsizing, restructuring, and the fear of becoming obsolete, while grounding everything in strong, lived-in performances.

Dennis Quaid brings old-school sincerity, Topher Grace plays insecurity with an earnest edge, and Scarlett Johansson gives the film emotional texture even with limited screen time.

A Perspective Problem with In Good Company

That said, the movie does stumble when it comes to point of view. The story never fully commits to whether Quaid or Grace is the true protagonist, which muddies the emotional core. As a result, the movie sometimes feels like it’s trying to tell two different coming-of-age stories at once.

Butler also takes issue with some of the choices Quaid’s character makes, decisions that don’t entirely ring true for who the film tells us he is. And while the ending is undeniably satisfying, it veers into “Hollywood tidy." A neat bow on characters who’ve spent most of the film pushing back against conformity.

Still Worth the Revisit

Even with its flaws, In Good Company remains a likable, well-meaning film with plenty of heart. It’s a movie about connection across generations, redefining purpose, and figuring out your place when the world shifts beneath your feet, a theme that feels just as relevant now as it did in 2004.

Warm, honest, and surprisingly reflective, this one still has plenty to offer.

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