People Like Us

Sam Harper is a debt ridden LA writer, a struggling man, who returns home for his estranged father's funeral. Instead of closure, he discovers a twist waiting in the will: he must deliver $150,000 in cash to a sister he never knew existed, a 30-year-old alcoholic named Frankie, and her 12-year-old son. The request becomes a moral test as Sam is pulled between the burden of family obligation and his own shaky finances. As old resentments surface and hidden connections emerge, he finds himself reexamining the past he thought he understood. The trip forces him to weigh loyalty, responsibility, and the price of secrets in a world of compromise.

Directed by Alex Kurtzman, the film marks his move behind the camera for a live action drama. It originated from an original screenplay by Jody Lambert and Roberto Orci, with a Los Angeles setting anchoring the story.

While not a blockbuster, the film has a quiet presence among adult dramas that tackle family secrets and moral choices. The ensemble, led by Chris Pine with Michelle Pfeiffer and Elizabeth Banks, delivers grounded performances that give weight to class and kinship themes rather than spectacle.

Critics framed the film as a steady character study about family ties, debt, and the cost of keeping secrets. It earns its keep through solid performances and a restrained tone that favors honesty over melodrama, inviting audiences to weigh obligations against personal dreams.