Paramount Classics' "Company Man" could have been a smart, humorous look at a historical event few Hollywood films have covered-- The Bay of Pigs. With an all star cast ranging from independent film star Heather Matarazzo and teen heartthrob Ryan Phillippe to comedian Denis Leary and Academy Award nominee Sigourney Weaver, "Company Man" somehow manages to fall flat despite its four-star cast and a witty, original script.
"Company Man" stars Douglas McGrath as Allen Quimp, a grammar teacher that goes so far pretending he is a member of the CIA to impress his family of overachievers that he actually helps Rudolph Petrov, a Russian ballet dancer (Ryan Phillippe), defect. Impressed by his ability to help the young Russian, the CIA decides to actually hire the impostor so that they can take credit for Petrov. Now what they have to figure out is what to do with Quimp.
Deciding to place Quimp in Cuba, the safest, quietest backwater imaginable at the time, the CIA is virtually unaware of the revolution about to take place. Before they know it, Quimp is up against Fidel Castro (played by Anthony LaPaglia) himself, and its up to this impostor-turned-agent not only to resolve peace in Cuba, but to get back to the United States alive.
The script to "Company Man," which includes many little known facts about the Bay of Pigs, is witty and intelligent. Even the most absurd scenes and characteristics of a character somehow come into play at the film's end, a trait many films nowadays fail to succeed at doing. For some reason though, "Company Man" isn't that funny or entertaining. The great acting gets annoying, the jokes get old and even the numerous cameos become dull. Although there are a few moments that will stick in the viewer's mind as pure genius, the rest of the film will come across as too campy and sketch-comedy like to ever be taken seriously-- even for a comedy.
No matter how cheesy "Company Man" is, its cast is well worth noting. A few jokes aside, it is "Company Man"'s cast that will draw viewers into the film and make the movie memorable rather than dismissable. Sigourney Weaver's portrayal of the money hungry wife is so annoying and over the top it's obvious to those who are used to her acting style that she was trying to be bad. Her attempt to be horrid pays off though, and compliments the obsessive, grammar-control freak husband of hers (McGrath) perfectly. Meanwhile, Alan Cumming's portrayal of the flamboyant dictator Batista is just as memorable and enjoyable as his performance in "Cabaret" as the Emcee, and Ryan Phillippe's performance as the Russian ballet dancer-- however brief-- is one of the film's highlights. Phillippe's thick accent seems so natural it's easy for viewers to believe he really is from Russia, and shows those doubtful of his talent that he isn't just another Hollywood pretty boy. Even Woody Allen, who is annoying in almost all of his roles, is a welcome addition to the cast, adding both humor and background to the film.
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