My Rating: 3.77/4 (aka A fun one that’s worth it)

One line summary: A middle-aged executive navigates being a middle-aged executive, husband, and father.

The Deets: I will blatantly admit that when I saw this movie when it came out in 2004 I thought Dennis Quaid was old, and now I am his age in the movie, and so the movie is kind of about me, which is mostly a joke but not really. This is one of those light, smart, well-written family comedy dramas that you don’t really see anymore, so I felt like it was worth a nudge here. And I still quote the well-cast Topher Grace (who never quite had a movie star career) when he says “synergy” and puts his hands together in that funny corporate way. The life lessons aren’t deep but they’re universal. And when I learned that writer/director Paul Weitz is also a Wesleyan alum, that was icing on the cake. Also, who knew Scarlett Johansson was a solid tennis player?

Perfect for: If you’re in the mood for a solid throwback comedy drama situation that hits all the right notes without being too cliche.

Where to watch: Catch it on Amazon Prime or Apple TV for rent, an evening well spent.

Food pairing: Baked ziti in a bowl. Or Domino’s.