Movie Review: 'Smart People'

Written by Terry Hunter - thunter@kgmb9.com

May 03, 2008 07:00 PM

The new movie called "Smart People" is a comedy-drama starring Dennis Quaid as a very unpopular college professor and Ellen Page of "Juno" as his brainy daughter.

Their acting alone makes the film worth seeing.

The publicity tag line for "Smart People" is this: "Sometimes the smartest people have the most to learn." And that's an accurate assessment of the characters Quaid and Page play in this movie.

Father and daughter are both scholars without a clue about life. They are arrogant and self-absorbed, but still manage to earn our sympathy mainly because "Smart People" is about how they eventually wise up...thanks in part to Quaid's brother, an unemployed slacker played by Thomas Haden Church, an actor who steals every scene he's in.

Quaid himself is really effective as Lawrence, a depressed widower who doesn't relate well to anyone--not even his son and his 17 year old daughter Vanessa (Page)who's obsessed with getting getting a good SAT score. (By the way, this movie was actually made before Page got the lead role in "Juno.")

“I don't think you're very happy,” Lawrence says to Vanessa.
“Well, you’re not happy, and you’re my role model,” she replies.”

When Lawrence gets knocked out in a fall and can't drive a car for several months, his stoner brother Chuck,(Thomas Haden Church) sees the situation as an opportunity to live free for awhile. It’s not an idea that sits well with Lawrence, but he has little choice in the matter and eventually he even confides in his sibling.

“Everyone around me is crazy,” Lawrence says.

“You’re the one that’s crazy,” Chuck replies. “Socially retarded, can’t get along with women, should be gay.”

But Lawrence actually begins dating Janet (Sarah Jessica Parker), the doctor who cares for him in the hospital. Janet was a student in one of his classes ten years ago and winds up coming to Christmas dinner at the home of this dysfunctional family.

“These children haven’t been properly parented in years,” Chuck announces at the table. “They’re practically feral. That’s why I was brought in.” Janet laughs.

"Smart People" is no masterpiece and it's not as good as "Sideways" or "Wonder Boys," two movies it's been compared to. But the wonderful characters and smart, funny dialog make it an entertaining little movie.