The Company Men

In 2008 as the recession kicks into full gear, three men at different pay grades in a Boston shipping company are downsized and take their situations in a different way. Bobby (Ben Affleck) is too proud to give up certain luxuries or take a lesser paying job. Gene (Tommy Lee Jones) questions the actions of the company he helped found and wonders if it all has been worth the comfortable lifestyle it has afforded. Phil (Chris Cooper) is past his prime and finds himself outmatched by younger, more hirable candidates. The Company Men is a relevant movie with its heart in the right place with a remarkable cast which also includes Kevin Costner, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Maria Bello. Unfortunately, it is also an empty movie that is painfully obvious and offers no surprises we didn't see coming. Its cast, particularly Jones who always seems to fit perfectly into his roles, carries it for a long while but ultimately there just isn't enough here to keep the film afloat.