Lucy Stanbridge (Aubrey Plaza) is struggling to maintain her book publishing father's legacy. Her books are being skewered by critics and Jack Sinclair (Scott Speedman) is trying to buy her out. She and her assistant Rachel Spence (Ellen Wong) discover an old contract with legendary writer Harris Shaw (Michael Caine). Harris wrote a groundbreaking blockbuster with her father but nothing more. In the contract, he owes the company one more book and she forces the sickly drunken writer to do a book tour.

The first half is trying to be a slightly comedic road trip with Plaza doing Plaza. It's a bit uneven and clunky. It's not until Aubrey throws up into the bowl that the movie finds its heart. The second half is much better for it. I'm not sure if this is a realistic book publishing world but at least, the movie is trying. One does need to stick with this movie for awhile before it gets good.

Best Sellers won't disappoint much people. There's a captivating story, sometimes sentimental, sometimes funny, and some good actors. For the funny parts it was mostly due to the character of Ellen Wong, for the sentimental parts the difficult relarionship between Michael Caine and Aubrey Plaza. Ellen Wong had a smaller part but was funny. Michael Caine (already 88 years old) still has it. Audrey Plaza in a slightly different role that we're normally used of did okay. I can't say I was bored by this movie, on the contrary it's an engaging story easy to follow. Best Sellers isn't a fast paced action movie, it's rather slow, a lot of conversations, but they all add something to the emotional story.

Michael Caine is 88, he plays his age like the pro that he is and he will bring you from despising Harris Shaw, his character, to loving Harris Shaw, in the course of the story and thanks to the determination of Lucy Stanbridge played by the delightful Aubrey Plaza.

Shaw is a cantankerous curmudgeon writer who Lucy Stanbridge gets to open up, to her, after he nearly ruined her. She picks up wisdom from Shaw, as he finds peace from her caring for him. Predictable just like the movie magic doctors prescribed for your enjoyment. It's the classic from hopeless to hopeful to peace and new goals. Basically life, if you're lucky.

You may shed a tear or two because it works that way if you understand or can relate to hardship and to final peace, especially if you're up in age yourself. There's just something special when generational differences act as the glue that fixes things. It got me right in my sentimental sweet spot, got me good.