Smart People (R) 95 minutes C+
Too smart for it's own good
Starring Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page, Thomas Haden Church, Ashton Holmes, and Christine Lahti
Somewhere I thought that I read that Smart People was from the creators of Sideways and The Savages...? Nevertheless I went in expecting Smart People to be very good despite the mediocre reviews.
This is a decent film, but it is also frustrating. I felt like it could have and should have been much better. My biggest problem was with Dennis Quaid. I simply didn't like his character, and not in a "he-was-good-at-getting-under-my-skin" sort of way. I found him annoying, awkward, and unconvincing.
Ellen Page saved this movie, she's excellent! Although RW was right when she said it wasn't much of a stretch from her Juno character, she's still the most engaging and interesting character in the film. Thomas Haden Church was also pretty good, but I could have done without the porno mustache.
I think that the film tries very hard to be bittersweet... and it is, but it also comes off as a little overwrought, dry, and implausible. I really wanted to love this film but in the end I felt no connection with the characters and therefore felt no passion about the ending. It's an entertaining film, but Smart People might be overthinking it a bit.
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