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Any movie that starts off with an angry man who parks illegally in a prestigious private college is destined for greatness in a typical movie box office, at least in my opinion. When I think of Dennis Quaid, I think back to my 6th grade days of watching, "The Parent Trap" with a pre-druggie Lindsay Lohan and a beautiful kid-spiced love story with this gentle man at its helm. I also think about "Yours, Mine and Ours," a remake of the classic of the same name starring Lucille Ball. Another film that comes to mind is "In Good Company," where Quaid plays a man who is demoted and under the leadership of a much younger Topher Grace. In short, I really only think of romantic comedies in relation to him; the role suits him. I don't think of his blockbuster action hits like "Vantage Point" or "Flight of the Phoenix." For one thing, I have regretfully and shamefully never seen them. For another, I don't like to imagine him in any other role than that of a soft, fun dad.
Like everyone else will probably say, I will admit that I saw "Smart People" to see the highly praised Ellen Page relive her glorious quirkiness once again. She did, for the most part. Her sarcasm and wit stayed strong, even though she was embedded in an entirely different role from "Juno." Instead of a cute, dorky girl into lots of cool, dorky music, Page plays a scholarly high school senior in, "Smart People," eager to make the perfect score on her SATs and get into a great school. But, this movie is not really about Page and her snooty sounding character Vanessa Wetherhold, although she does have an interesting plot of her own. It's about Dennis Quaid, the man who plays her father, Lawrence.
Still getting over his dead wife, Lawrence Wetherhold is a bitter English professor teaching at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania. He does not like getting along with people, and does not hide this fact. With several failing attempts to publish his novel under his belt as well, he is certainly an angry man.
After his car is towed for taking up two spots instead of one, Wetherhold attempts to break into the impound lot. He succeeds-for a moment-until the attendant chases after him and he falls and gives himself a concussion. When he wakes up, he is in a hospital and finds out from his attractive ex-student doctor (Sarah Jessica Parker) that he cannot legally drive for 6 months. Enter Wetherhold's mooching adopted brother, Chuck (Thomas Haden Church) who deposits himself in Lawrence's house as his unappreciated pseudo chaffeur.
Although Quaid still plays a father, he is far from the soft, understanding character that he has portrayed in the past. His grumpy, rough attitude highlights on the fact that he has depth and versatility as an actor. I was surprised to see him remain so angry throughout the movie, even when he starts to date his doctor. The self-centered nature of his character also brings some interest to the film. The audience gets as frustrated with this character as he is with everyone around him.
The comic (and very necessarily so) relief comes in the form of Church, who first seems to be a stupid failure ends up being the voice of reason in the movie. When Page, friendless and lonely, allows herself to be influenced by her uncle by way of drugs and booze, she throws herself at Chuck, but learns some valuable lessons when he gives her the silent treatment.
Sarah Jessica Parker as Dr. Janet Hartigan is the shining light in the movie, giving the film the facelift it needs to make it a dark comedy instead of simply a dark, depressing movie. She makes Quaid second guess himself and his bitter motives throughout the movie. Instead of cowering in fear from like the majority of the Carnegie Mellon community, she calls him out on his pompous, arrogant attitude, even leaving him at dinner when he cannot drive himself home.
Another main character, though seemingly unnecessary, is Lawrence's son, James Wetherhold(Ashton Holmes). Aside from the occasional spats with his sister and his poem being published in The New Yorker, James provides very little substance as a character. He does not support or hate his father and he does not rebel in any way like his sister. The acting on Holmes' part was satisfactory, but the movie could have done without the character.
Overall, though, "Smart People" is a dark, witty film that shows great acting range on the part of Dennis Quaid and does not disappoint as Ellen Page's follow up role. If hating a character is your thing, "Smart People" is a surefire win and worth the ridiculously high 9 dollar ticket price.
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