Good Company lacks sincerity, wit

The premise of In Good Company is not difficult to follow, nor is it that entertaining. Dennis Quaid's middle-aged character, Dan Foreman, loses his head honcho advertising sales position at Sports America Magazine to an up and coming 26-year-old business prot & eacute;g & eacute; named Carter Duryea, played by That 70's Show's Topher Grace.

From the previews alone you can infer that Carter begins to have a risqu & eacute; relationship with Dan's daughter, Alex (Lost in Translation's Scarlett Johansson).

The relationship would seem to be a large focal point of the film, but it is actually just a miniscule detail.

Also from the previews, In Good Company looks like a cutesy movie that will have audiences opening their eyes and hearts to a new and meaningful perspective on life, but this too is where the preview is terribly misleading.

Dan's company is purchased and he realizes that he could be easily dispensable. Dan loses his job to Carter who is being groomed for his next position atop the corporate ladder.

Carter meets Alex in the elevator on his first day of the job where he reveals to her that he is " scared shitless. " Instead of getting fired like most everyone else in the company, Dan only receives a huge kick to his ego and is forced to become Carter's " wingman. "

Soon after, things start to get semi-interesting. Dan's wife becomes pregnant. Yes he is 52, but they are still going to have a baby. Meanwhile, Carter's wife of six months moves out.

Dan learns he has to take a second mortgage on his house to pay for Alex's transfer to NYU. Carter purchases a Porsche.

When Dan and his wife sign the papers for their second mortgage, Carter signs the papers to finalize the divorce from his wife. Do we see the lives of the two lead males paralleling yet?

Alex transfers from SUNY to NYU, while Carter sells his lavish house and downsizes to a well decorated apartment in the city as well. A chance meeting at an outside caf & eacute; in New York City jumpstarts the beginning of Carter and Alex's secret affair.

As Dan buys baby supplies for his child on the way at Target, Carter purchases Alex an extremely expensive diamond necklace. Dan discovers their secret. Gasp! Like we didn't see that one coming! Carter gets a black eye courtesy of Dan. Alex subsequently breaks up with Carter (but not for her dad's sake).

Sports America Magazine is sold (again), Carter loses his job and, you guessed it, Dan is given his old position and old office.

Alex and Carter meet again near the elevators. Carter declines the new position that he is offered from Dan to remain a part of the Sports America team.

Dan's wife gives birth to another daughter. Carter receives the phone call about the birth while he is jogging on a beautiful beach into his unknown future. Then, thankfully, the credits roll.

On a positive note, the lives of Dan and Carter are cleverly intertwined with crosscutting shots of both characters, but neither character seems to be fully developed.

Grace proves he is able to pull his weight in a big budget motion picture, while Scarlet Johansson seems to only be in the movie because she has been labeled Hollywood's latest " it girl. "

We do learn that family is important, that even at 26 you still may not know what you want to do with your life and that it might take a lifetime of searching to truly find yourself, your true love, and something compelling to do with your time and energy. We also learn that money cannot buy you happiness, but we have all heard that clich & eacute; before, right?

The movie comes full circle with its storyline, yet the lives of Dan, Carter and Alex are uncertain. Does Dan's job really provide more security for his family now? Will Alex date Carter when she is older? What profession will Carter seek next?

If you enjoy movies with lots of witty one liners, strong character development and closure, do not see this movie. Save the money you would have spent on the ticket and buy the soundtrack CD. The music was the highlight of the movie. Fourteen songs from artists such as Iron & amp; Wine and David Byrne make for a relaxing and mellow CD, perfect for studying (or making out if you prefer).