Coming out just over a year after Jason Reitman's outstanding Up in the Air, The Company Men feels almost dated by comparison. This drama about corporate downsizing was written and directed by John Wells (one of the many talented individuals involved in the creation of NBC's E.R.), and while it does touch on some timely themes, there were moments when I found it quite difficult to find anything sympathetic about its lead characters. Wells focuses on men (and their families) who have everything and seemingly lose it all overnight. He then delves into how these individuals deal with their most unfortunate situations. Ben Affleck turns in some of his best work as an actor while Chris Cooper, Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, and Craig T. Nelson round out a stellar supporting cast. While there are quite a few plot threads going on in The Company Men, this is really a story about a man who loses nearly every thing before he discovers what's truly worth caring about. It might be a little obvious, but given the world we live in, it couldn't be anymore relevant. No real surprises here, but solid acting make it well worth checking out.