Rating of
2.5/4
Not as bad as I was expecting
MovieAddict - wrote on 08/18/13
A young New York businessman Sam (Chris Pine) finds himself deeply in debt and in hot water with his boss (Jon Favreau) when one of his deals goes horrendously wrong. Already upset he goes home to his girlfriend Hannah (Olivia Wilde) who shocks him with more bad news….his father has passed away and his mother Lillian (Michelle Pfeiffer) has requested he come. Unfortunately Sam's relationship with his father hasn't been the best and only the promise of money baits him to come.
When Sam finally shows up after the funeral, he finds out that his cold distant record producer father has left him his vinyl collection, and entrusted him with a shaving kit full of money for a sister Frankie (Elizabeth Banks) and nephew Josh (Michael Hall D'Addario)he didn't know he had. Sam decides to track her down and meet her and they "run into" each other at a Alcoholics Anonymous conclave where Sam fakes being an addict.
Not wanting to part with the $150,000 inheritance money, he does not divulge the truth to Frankie but rationalizes his decision by getting to know her. Sam needs the money but he also sees the need for Josh to inherit the money to make up for the wretched life Frankie has endured due to the father's denying her existence. He soon learns that Frankie hated their father as much as he did for choosing Sam's family over hers. Chris Pine and Elizabeth Banks actually look enough alike to pass as siblings. I watched this movie on a whim not knowing quite what to expect but by the end I was more than pleasantly surprised. Quirky at moments, tender in others, but overall very heartwarming and real!