By Sometimes we drift through life, not sure of who we are or where we’re going, no matter how smart or established we may seem to be. Such is the case in “Smart People,” a new film from Miramax Films.
Lawrence Wetherhold, played by Dennis Quaid, is a widowed professor of Victorian literature and although scholarly, he is awfully stupid in matters of relationships with his family, co-workers, and pretty much any other human who comes in contact with him.
With a pretentious outlook on life, Lawrence treats others as though they’ll never meet his expectations. Continuing to hold on to his wife’s clothing doesn’t help him have a sunny demeanor, either.
His son, James, played by Ashton Holmes, attends the same university at which Lawrence teaches because, well, it’s free tuition that way. However, he makes the choice to live on campus rather than at home.
At home, Lawrence’s daughter Vanessa, played by Ellen Page (“Juno”), takes on the motherly tasks of the household. She does the laundry, makes dinners and gets upset when her father isn’t home in time to eat. At school Vanessa is an overachiever, desperately trying to make a perfect score on her SATs, as wells as participating in several organizations such as Young Republicans.
Chuck, played by Thomas Haden Church, is Lawrence’s freeloading, adopted brother who shows up, looking for yet another handout. When Chuck decides to stay, Lawrence’s life begins to spin out of control.
Caught up in family drama, Lawrence soon finds himself hospitalized. There he encounters Dr. Janet Hartigan, a former student of his, played by Sarah Jessica Parker. Janet’s old crush on Lawrence is rekindled, and he finds himself with an interest in her, too. Much to Vanessa’s dismay, the two board the rollercoaster of dating.
A sharp and witty film, the actors play their characters with such perfection that you forget about their past roles and see them as people who are your neighbors, your friends, or even your family. Sometimes it’s hard to find the humor in the drama of life, but this film does it at every turn.
“Smart People” may have some well-known actors, but it has the debut of two people in very important roles: its screenwriter and director. As a screenwriting debut of novelist Mark Poirier, the dialogue keeps the plot moving even though centered on normally dull, daily, family life.
It is also director Noam Murro’s feature film debut. Murro’s direction adds to the high quality of “Smart People,” allowing us to walk along with each character without getting in the way.
Through the contentions in their relationships with each other, the characters manage to give love and receive the love they need.
“Smart People” has an independent film feel to it, but that is only because it is up against the nonsense of the big-budget, blow-them-up or toilet-humor films constantly being released.
Though some of the characters may be pretentious, at least at first, this film is not. With moments that touch the heart mixed in with great humor, “Smart People” is, as it says, “cerebral fun.”
