THE COMPANY MEN
Strong performances cannot overcome this downbeat, mature workplace drama.
Should You Watch It?
The Company Men takes economic hardship seriously. Its veteran cast gives potent performances as middle-aged and older men struggle after corporate layoffs, and the film finds positive meaning in family, hard work, and a general belief in God. It also criticizes excessive CEO salaries while remaining broadly pro-capitalist.
But the experience is almost relentlessly downbeat. Strong foul language and mature themes, including suicide and adultery, make this unsuitable for children and young teens. The script is boring, and its hopeful ending feels falsely optimistic because it arrives without enough preparation.
If you are an adult who wants a serious workplace drama and can handle its content, you may find value in its acting and family themes. For most households, wait to watch it at home, where you can control the experience.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESBobby Walker is a suburban shipbuilding executive earning more than $150,000, with a loving wife and a somewhat distant teenage stepson. His life changes when he is laid off during a wave of corporate downsizing.
As friends and mentors face the same crisis, Bobby and the other men spend the next year trying to survive a crippling labor market where age stands against them. Their struggles force them to reconsider work, family, and what makes life meaningful.
Is It Any Good?
Two stars means the acting is the film’s main strength, while the writing and overall execution fall short. Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper, Kevin Costner, and the rest of the veteran cast give potent performances that lend weight to the men’s economic struggles.
The script, however, is boring and compounds the film’s problems with its almost relentlessly downbeat tone. Its falsely hopeful ending seems to come from nowhere, making the resolution ring false. The movie’s positive family elements and fine acting provide some redemption, but not enough to make this a strong recommendation.
The Worldview
The film has a strong focus on romantic and family relationships, with a light Christian element. Bobby finds strength through an unemployment support group that encourages faith in a general God. Marriage is ultimately portrayed positively, even though stress causes a married couple to argue strongly.
The movie is generally pro-capitalist, while criticizing very high salaries for CEOs when many other employees are being laid off. It presents adultery and suicide unfavorably rather than celebrating them. Its view of faith remains general rather than centered on the specific claims of Christianity.
The film’s deeper longing is for stability, dignity, faithful love, and help in trouble. Scripture says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong Romantic worldview with light Christian element due to main character’s turning to faith in a general God via an unemployment support group, plus marriage is ultimately portrayed in positive light and the movie is generally pro-capitalist though it criticizes very high salaries for CEOs; frequent foul language includes at least 45 obscenities (including numerous “f” words) and several uses of GD; implied suicide as one jobless, depressed major character is seen getting into his car in a closed garage and starting the engine, cutting away to his funeral; implied and discussed adultery of a major secondary character, shown discreetly as he is in a hotel room before and after sex, but no depiction; brief flash of upper female nudity as man’s mistress gets dressed; male leads drink throughout, mostly due to stress, though one character drinks heavily into depression; and, married couple shown arguing strongly due to stress, but they always make peace and marriage overall is portrayed in a strong, positive, loving fashion, and man attempts vandalism while drunk by throwing rocks at the business that laid him off, but no damage occurs.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Bobby’s job loss changes how he sees work and family. What gives a person dignity when a job, house, or income is taken away?
Genesis 1:27 · Ephesians 2:10The film presents faith as a source of strength during hardship. What does it mean to trust God when circumstances do not improve quickly?
Psalm 46:1–3 · James 1:2–4The movie portrays adultery and suicide unfavorably. How can suffering distort a person’s judgment, and how should a community respond to someone in despair?
Galatians 6:2 · 1 Corinthians 10:13The film criticizes excessive executive salaries during widespread layoffs. What responsibilities do people with economic power have toward those who depend on them?
Proverbs 14:31 · James 5:1–6The Final Word
The Company Men offers fine acting and positive ideas about family and faith, but its strong language, mature themes, and relentlessly downbeat story make it a poor family choice. For discerning adults, watch at home rather than in theaters. WAIT FOR HOME — ADULTS ONLY. For other options, see.
