Release date: April 11, 2008
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Ellen Paige, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Haden Church, Ashton Holmes
Directed by Noam Murro
Studio: Miramax Pictures
SMART PEOPLE comes straight from the Sundance Festival into the big screens and here is one more of those 'smart' comedies trying to keep the viewers busy before the real summer extravaganzas is unleashed.
Dennis Quaid plays the main role trying to put some charm into the character of a bored professor. Quaid is joined in by Ellen Paige who is enjoying a starry phase thanks to the sucess of JUNO. Sarah Jessica Parker meanwhlile plays the female lead.
Professor Lawrence Wetherhold (Dennis Quaid) might be imperiously brilliant, monumentally self-possessed and an intellectual giant - but when it comes to solving the conundrums of love and family, he’s as downright flummoxed as the next guy. His teenaged daughter (Ellen Page) is an acid-tongued overachiever who follows all too closely in dad’s misery-loving footsteps, and his adopted, preposterously ne’er-do-well brother (Thomas Haden Church) has perfected the art of freeloading. A widower who can’t seem to find passion in anything anymore, not even the Victorian Literature in which he’s an expert, it seems Lawrence is sleepwalking through a very stunted middle age.
When his brother shows up unexpectedly for an extended stay at just about the same time as he accidentally encounters his former student Janet (Sarah Jessica Parker), the circumstances cause him to stir from his deep, deep freeze, with often comical, sometimes heartbreaking, consequences for himself and everyone
THE PANEL ROOM
The film seems to be winning praises for all its positives but only to a limited extent. The general feeling is that the movie could have been been something bigger and better, but it seems that the makers have resorted to keeping it simple and cliche without getting any adventurous.
A decent comedy with several A grade listers which might be a better watch on your cable rather than on the big screen!
Unlikely to catch fire in theaters, these "People" will eventually find their company most welcome on cable. - VARIETY
“Smart People” isn’t a work of genius, but it’s clever enough to make you forgive its missteps. ONEGUYSOPINION B
Those who find comfort in competently made but overly familiar stories may enjoy what Smart People have to offer. For me, it was too thin to truly satisfy. REELVIEWS 2.5/4
the film is still decent, but it could’ve been much better. The characters don’t really progress too far FILM THREAT 3/5
"Smart People" is fairly intelligent, mildly amusing and clinically depressed ...a bit dull when you put it next to brilliant pictures about emotionally stymied writers/academics. CHICAGO SUN TIMES 2.5/4
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