The Company Men

Movie review by S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
The Company Men Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 16+

Thoughtful, heavy drama about the downsized.

R 2011 113 minutes
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 2 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this timely and topical drama -- which focuses on three executives who are forced to reexamine their values after losing their jobs -- is likely to be much more relatable for adults than for teens. There's also some mature content, including brief nudity, a lot of swearing ("s--t," "f--k," and more), and a good deal of drinking (including characters drinking to drown their sorrows). On the up side, characters who are initially invested in the material comforts of an increasingly upscale life learn that loyalty to friends and family is more important than pride.

Community Reviews

khan2705
khan2705 Adult
March 13, 2011
age 15+

a good drama, loved it.

Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck) is living the American dream: great job, beautiful family, shiny Porsche in the garage. When corporate downsizing leaves him and co-workers Phil Woodward (Chris Cooper) and Gene McClary (Tommy Lee Jones) jobless, the three men are forced to re-define their lives as men, husbands, and fathers. Bobby soon finds himself enduring enthusiastic life coaching, a job building houses for his brother-in-law (Kevin Costner) which does not play to his executive skill set, and perhaps the realization that there is more to life than chasing the bigger, better deal. With humor, pathos, and keen observation, writer-director John Wells (the creator of "ER") introduces us to the new realities of American life. wow this movie touched my heart, i was waiting for this movie to come since its release date was being changed from time to time which was annoying. this movie is a completely good experience. a very simple movie with a right type of chord. it features the economic meltdown that we experienced and its effect of some of these people shown. makes the feel of this movie heartbreaking. i liked it. its not UP IN THE AIR of course since that one was outstanding and the whole storyline and feel was quite different from this one. and i found my first 4 stars movie this year, lol. star cast was stunning according to me. i really like Ben Affleck he is good and talented and down to earth kind. he is just a perfect gentlemen according to me. i would say this is Ben Affleck's one of the the very best performance. he was so good in this movie and was being perfectly cast. loved him. Tommy Lee Jones was above average in it. Chris Cooper was very good. Maria Bello and kevin Costner weren't seen much but they were good too. so performance wise it was a good movie. direction of this movie was perfect and very appropriate. screenplay was engaging and well written. good story. cinematography was excellent. editing could have been slightly better. i really liked the background score too, lovely. i don't know why this movie didn't got the attention of film festivals and awards ceremonies. i must admit it is slow moving, sometimes boring but everything in it is so well paced that you won't get bored. i enjoyed and liked this movie very much. its a reality based kind of haunting movie. but with a very feel good end. i loved it and so will you.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Great messages
feministandschoolcounselor
feministandschoolcounselor Adult
February 6, 2011
age 15+
Parents need to know that there is brief nudity in this film. A woman is shown topless very briefly. If the purpose of this site is to inform parents, you missed the mark on this one. I do not attend movies where gratuitous nudity is shown and I certainly had no intent to expose my teenager to another hollywood film that sexualizes and exploits actresses with nudity that does not add to the storyline and only serves to titillate the audience, objectify the female characters, or earn an R-rating. Parents, consider kids-in-mind.com for more accurate movie reviews.

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

After putting distance between himself and his unglamorous, modest childhood by building a privileged life in a leafy suburb funded by a six-figure sales job at a multinational corporation, Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck) finds himself downsized. He's sure he'll find a replacement soon, an optimism that his more realistic wife (Rosemarie DeWitt) doesn't share. His former colleague, Phil Woodward (Chris Cooper), worries that he's next, while their boss, Gene McClary (Tommy Lee Jones), feels increasingly bereft by the failing economy and the layoffs that are destroying the company that he and his college roommate, now-CEO James Salinger (Craig T. Nelson), envisioned. None of them can predict the cost that all these changes will ultimately exact.

Is It Any Good?

A deeply empathetic film about men and women left unmoored after losing their jobs, it hits the right note. Hollywood sometimes glosses over the true impact of real-life struggles in the service of entertainment; THE COMPANY MEN, thankfully, does not. It tells a story that -- though nearly too tragic yet very familiar -- still needs to be told. Watching it is a sobering experience (and, it has to be said, pretty depressing).

Everyone in the cast plays it right, striking a strong balance between maudlin and true. Affleck begins the movie with a strut and ends it humbled but still standing, and Jones manages to stay sympathetic despite playing a character who, for the most part, is financially untouched by the winds of change. But it's Cooper who's most troubling, standing in for those who are truly devastated. The film may have its inadequacies -- a grating obviousness, for one -- but it's a triumph, nevertheless, for a movie about defeated times.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how movies (and other media) reflect the state of society. Should movies offer escapist entertainment, or do they have a duty to address real-life problems?

  • How do the characters change over the course of the movie? What do they learn? How does the way they identify themselves shift?

  • Do you think businesses owe loyalty to their employees or their shareholders? Are layoffs just part of business?

Movie Details

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