In Theaters: People Like Us

Sibling relationships – and 80 percent of Americans have at least one – outlast marriages, survive the death of parents, resurface after quarrels that would sink any friendship. They flourish in a thousand incarnations of closeness and distance, warmth, loyalty and distrust. – Erica E. Goode

As a young girl growing up in an only-child family, I longed for a brother or sister…someone who I could play dolls with or confide in…someone who knew precisely what it was like to grow up in our home. I was surrounded by people who shared a special bond with their siblings, and while I always felt loved, I also felt like I was missing out.

What would you do if, as an adult, you suddenly learned that you had a sibling? That is precisely the question Dreamworks’ latest film release seeks to explore. Based on true events that occurred in Director Alex Kurtzman’s life, People Like Us is a poignant film that explores the meaning of family, with all of it’s messy imperfections.

As the film opens, we learn that Sam (Chris Pine) is a self-involved, struggling salesman who’s business is on the brink of collapse. When he receives news that his father has unexpectedly passed away, audiences already sense the tension and strain of this relationship, as Sam purposefully attempts to evade going back home.

Once home, Sam is presented with the task of finding the sister he never knew he had, in order to give her the inheritance left by their father. Sam experiences a wide range of emotions as he uncovers the truth about his father’s affair, the family he never knew, and the secrets that families keep to protect the ones they love. As much as the film is about Sam redeeming himself and doing the right thing, the deeper message about family unity against all odds resonates throughout the film.

In an age where romance, drama, and action films consistently top box office charts comes a film that challenges your definition of family. The development of Sam’s relationship with older sibling Frankie (Elizabeth Banks) and her troubled son is deeply moving. What I loved about the film is the message that what you do…the choices you…make matter. When Sam meets Frankie, he is inevitably forced to explore his relationship with his mother, reflect back on his relationship with his father, and make character and orelational decisions based on those reflections…in essence grow up.

No matter how far you run from your family, it makes you what you are – Alex Kurtzman

And that is the overall message Kurtzman hopes audiences will take away from the film During my time in LA, I had an opportunity to chat with director Alex Kurtzman and his personal journey that inspired the making of this film. Stay tuned for our exclusive interview.

Disclosure: Travel expenses associated with the event were provided by Disney

Photos: DreamWorks

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Caryn Bailey

Caryn is a NICU nurse by day, blogger by night and mom 24/7. She savors the warm Southern California sun and loves to travel, shopping, baking, reading and frequenting her local tea room. Caryn created the column Lavishly Green for Peekaboo Picks Magazine to share her best tips for going green in style, she is the Former editor for Family Review Network, former OC Family Magazine online contributor, former Orange County Moms Blog contributor, former Evenflo Savvy Parent contributor, former member of the Totsy Advisory Board and former freelance writer for CBS Los Angeles.