Smart People Review

Smart People reviews

Movie

Smart People

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2008-06-06 21:48:31

Rating

2/5

Provider

CinemaSource

Review

Some good performances and witty dialogue still can't lift this mildly entertaining but unexceptional comedy into a must-see. Really smart people will probably wait for the DVD release.

Story

Dennis Quaid plays Professor Lawrence Wetherhold, a brilliant, bored and completely self-absorbed widower who may be super-intelligent but still can't figure out how to deal with a family that includes an independent-minded son (Ashton Holmes) and his eager over-achieving daughter (Ellen Page). As he meanders thru his seemingly miserable life, his freeloading adopted brother (Thomas Haden Church) shows up for an unwanted visit, making matters even worse. Despite these obstacles in his personal life, his only goal seems to be getting his pretentious un-publishable book published and becoming head of the University's English department. When his own stubborn stupidity brings on a sudden seizure that lands him in the hospital, he encounters a pretty doctor (Sarah Jessica Parker) who just happened to be one of his former students. Despite a couple of awkward dinners, he suddenly finds himself in love and moving into a new, unexpected phase of his life--one with lots of unforeseen complications.

Acting

It's nice to see Quaid attempt more character-driven roles as he gets older and for a while, his take on this dour professor is quite amusing. But the hopeless arrogance of the guy makes it hard for the audience to have any empathy despite the fact that he obviously loved his wife and still has the capacity to give it another whirl with former student Parker. Perhaps that's the problem. It's hard to buy these two as a couple in any way shape or form. Their mutual attraction seems unfathomable, and Parker's underwritten moody doctor is just as difficult to snuggle up to as Quaid's weary professor. She's one of those "movie characters" whose motivations constantly change only to keep the plot moving. The best acting belongs to supporting players Church and Page, who have some choice scenes together. Church proved in Sideways he is a natural comic talent and his goofy take on the n'er-do-well brother, plus pitch-perfect line, readings make him the best reason to plunk down 10 bucks for this thing. Page actually shot this picture pre-Juno, and there are similarities to her character in both--but as the daughter much older than her years she again proves she's a prodigious talent, the 'it' girl of the moment. Christine Lahti, a fine actress, is completely underused here as a colleague of Quaid's. Most of her part probably lays somewhere on a cutting room floor. She deserves better.

Direction

Perhaps in more experienced hands--say Sideways' Alexander Payne--this material could have worked, but under the guidance of first-time feature director Noam Murro, it does not snap, crackle OR pop. The successful commercials director looks like he hasn't mastered the language of the big screen, shooting his actors, particularly Parker, in unattractively lit close-ups. Although early scenes setting up Quaid's character have some life, the overall film is uneven in tone and dreary to watch. Setting the film in a drab environment like Pittsburgh doesn't help, but the murky cinematography is unimaginative. It's easy to see the potential a savvy Oscar-nominated producer like Michael London (Sideways, House of Sand and Fog, The Visitor) may have seen in acclaimed novelist Mark Poirier's screenplay about a bunch of smart people making dumb choices. But he's been let down by a debuting director who just doesn't have a handle on the situation.

Bottom Line

Hollywood.com rated this film 2 stars.

Copyright © CinemaSource 2008.

Movie

Smart People

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2008-05-09 16:40:28

Provider

MRIB

Review

Dennis Quaid plays an intellectually astounding and visionary English Professor bereft of any abilities when it comes to communicating and understanding (or even noticing) his own family in this light comedy drama.

Recently widowed Lawrence Wetherhold (Quaid) bumbles through life avoiding the pitfalls (his students) and rancour of modern living (his family). However, one fall he can't avoid is off a fence trying to rescue his briefcase from his impounded car. Landing concussed in hospital he's tended to by ex-student Janet, now a doctor (Sarah Jessica Parker).

The concurrent return of his wayward (and broke) adopted brother, Chuck (Thomas Haden Church) is equally frustrating for him, especially as his accident means he needs a driver, and guess who volunteer? Meanwhile, his son won't talk to him and his daughter Vanessa (Ellen Page) is as equally miserablist and unforgiving of the world as her father.

It takes Chuck to step in and bring some much needed reality checks to them all. Unfortunately, his methods are unsound, his approaches dubious and some of the results wayward. However, his efforts are helped along the way by the burgeoning romance between Lawrence and Janet.

Quaid's way out of his comfort zone of loner/hero roles with Wetherhold and it's a pleasure to watch him bring this character to life with such aplomb. The ensemble cast also sees Haden Church in a role to equal his performance in Sideways, while Page's role also shows her adaptability. Both this role and Juno are witty, acid tongued young women and could have seen her pigeonholed, but she separates the two perfectly with a mature and subtle performance. Parker, oft too easily passed off as fluff, gives a studied and balanced performance to round things out.

A good quality American indie film that doesn't get too swept up with wackiness and weirdness can sometimes be hard to find. But, thanks to an excellent script, that's what we've got here. You're never grinding your teeth at a glib line and the story surprises throughout.

A quietly humorous piece that never loses sight of the reality it portrays - Totally refreshing.

Copyright © MRIB 2008.