In Good Company - 2 stars
Directed by Paul Weitz
Starring Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, Scarlett Johansson, Marg HelgenbergerIn Good Company holds particular appeal to college students: The movie highlights the importance of discovering individual and vocational passions, a topic especially relevant during these four years. The 26-year-old Carter Duryea (Topher Grace, That '70s Show) possesses such great talent in advertising that he supplants Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid, The Rookie) as head of sales at a publishing company, even though Dan is twice as old. Despite this, Carter only finds true happiness when he starts dating (and sleeping with) college student Alex (Scarlett Johansson, Lost in Translation), who just happens to be Dan's daughter.

Dan's stress over his demotion, a new baby in the family, Alex's tuition, and his divorce comes across as genuine, even if the acting feels slightly put-on. Most films about self-discovery are saturated with so many clichd lines and poorly written monologues that they feel like they're stuck in the late-90s teeny-bopper-movie age of Center Stage and Can't Hardly Wait. But In Good Company proves that the visual can be worth a thousand words, showing Carter's inner turmoil through midnight jogs on his treadmill and conversations with his pet fish, rather than through rambling and empty dialogue.

But just like the protagonist Carter, the movie itself occasionally seems somewhat awkward. While it is heart warming to watch Carter and Alex grow into maturity, the process is just as tiresome on film as it is in real life. Finding personal fulfillment is a life-long search; in a movie, this process either seems insincere if it's wrapped up too quickly, or it leaves audiences feeling unsatisfied if left open-ended.

In Good Company tries to strike a balance between these two approaches in its quest to document the search for meaning in life. However, unlike other similar soul-searching films currently in theaters, the awkwardness of In Good Company's Carter and Alex permeates the movie's plot. While the characters eventually come into maturity, the storyline unsatisfactorily remains drenched in pubescent ineptitude.
-Jenn Rubin



Coach Carter - 4.5 stars
Directed by Thomas Carter
Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Ri'chard, Rick Gonzalez, Ashanti, Adrienne Bailon

Most people know what to expect when they see an inspirational sports movie. You need an uncooperative, highly unmotivated group of young athletes. Then add a hard-nosed discipline-obsessed coach who whips them into shape. Finally, throw in several down-to-the-wire games where the last point determines the victors and you have your formula.

Coach Carter does little to deviate from this genre's overused plot points. Based on a true story, the film finds Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction) playing high school basketball coach Kenneth Carter. However this movie presents a recipe that is far from unique, it doesn't have a bad after-taste.

Aside from the excitement of intense ballgame scenes, Coach Carter offers a powerful message. Jackson helps his charges to transcend the institutional barriers that might hamper their success. He challenges the boys both athletically and intellectually, even when the team's mental prowess and integrity are questioned.

Though times of extreme duress befall the coach, he maintains his resolve and works harder, battling not only the boys' tough exteriors, but also the harsh words he receives from a community content with letting their sons succeed in basketball but not in school. As the wins pile up, the boys slowly come around. And as the movie progresses and anxiety builds, the effect that Coach Carter has had becomes very apparent.

Though some may shudder at the film's clichd imagery-drug pushing, gun carrying and poor grades-and pedestrian plot, most will be able to look past these deficiencies and realize that Coach Carter's recipe is still good to the last bite.
-Kyle Turner