Smart People Review

Smart PeopleReleased: 24 April 2008Cast: Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Haden Church, Ellen Page, Ashton Holmes
Director: Noam Murro
Screenplay: Mark Poirier
Genre: Drama/Comedy
Rated: M Moderate coarse language and sexual references
Running Time: 95 Minutes

Sometimes The Smartest People Have The Most To Learn

Synopsis:
Widowed and unhappy English professor Lawrence Wetherhold (Dennis Quaid), has alienated his son James (Ashton Holmes) and turned his daughter Vanessa (Ellen Page) into an overachieving, friendless teen. He falls for Janet (Sarah Jessica Parker), one of his former students, while at the same time his ne'er-do-well adopted brother Chuck (Thomas Haden Church) shows up at his door unexpectedly, triggering a series of crises.

My Verdict:
Poor Lawrence Wetherhold (Dennis Quaid) is a sad, lonely and bitter widowed university professor who lacks any spark for his life or those around him, including his two children, Vanessa (Ellen Page) and James (Ashton Holmes). He seems to be wading through the mire that is his life, misery following him like a leech. An accident lands him in the emergency department of the local hospital where a previous student becomes his doctor - Janet (Sarah Jessica Parker). They develop a relationship that will alter their lives and seriously challenge them. Added to this small group is Lawrence's adopted brother Chuck (Thomas Haden Church) who has arrived unexpectedly to stay in the Wetherhold house.

Character driven strongly throughout, Smart People brings together a group of smart people who seem overloaded with emotional baggage, their 'smartness' not nearly enough to keep themselves from sinking in their own dysfunction.

Leading character Lawrence is so morose and gloomy that he is barely likeable, yet Dennis Quaid manages to allow a hint of something buried deeper in his character that's just waiting to be released. The chemistry between him and Sarah Jessica Parker's Janet is only just beliveable with scant attention made to the history of Janet's life. Knowing why Janet was bereft of a life outside the hospital would have been welcome.

Ellen Page plays Vanessa like her Juno (2007) character - intellectually old before her time and is the master of the dead-pan acerbic wit and cynical outlook. Having taken on the role as chief cook and bottle-washer in the Wetherhold house, she is devoid of friends and fiercly determined to achieve academically. Ashton Holmes is never really allowed to let his characeter loose as he tries to break free from the clutches of his family.

Thomas Haden Church is the stand-out as Chuck, the carefree brother with the casual approach to life which contrasts to that of all the other characters. His has great timing and as the comedy relief, he is also the point from which the others can draw inspiration to change their outlook on life - proving that sometimes the smartest people have the most to learn. "These children haven't been properly parented in many years. They're practically feral. That's why I was brought in" being just one of his more pertinent observations.

Smart People uses intermittent comedy to balance the depth of drama and to show that no matter how clever we think we are, we are all still vulnerable. Sometimes slow and in danger of getting bogged down in its own message, it manages to keep rising above itself and perhaps be a mirror for many of those in the audience.

Rating : *** ½

Christina Bruce