Sadly Over-hyped

Best movie ever!

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Dennis Quaid stars with Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Haden Church, and Ellen Page in "Smart People" from 2008.Quaid is Lawrence, a widowed literature professor living with his daughter Vanessa (Page). He doesn't seem happy teaching and his students aren't crazy about him - in fact, when he goes someplace, it's hard for him to get anything done because the person waiting on him is often a student who got a D in his class. He is attempting to have a book published, but it's being turned down by everyone.One day, his adopted brother (Church) drops in for an extended stay. He sees that his niece is a wallflower, very focused on her studies, so he tries to loosen her up a little by taking her to clubs.When Lawrence is refused entry into a parking lot because he has no receipt, he climbs the fence because he needs his briefcase. On the way out, he crashes to the ground and winds up in the hospital. There he meets a pretty nurse, Janet (Parker) and the two tentatively start to date. She also received a lousy mark in his class. Is he going to let himself be happy? Are any of them?This is an off-beat film that kind of rolls along without a lot of direction, but I still liked it. I have loved Thomas Haden Church since Sideways, and he has some fabulous dialogue. Ellen Page is excellent as the daughter - intelligent, straightforward, blunt, and unhappy. Quaid is very good as the aimless, needy Lawrence who makes a stab at finding his way despite his ups and downs with Janet."Smart People" is a feel-good film but not in a stereotypical way. The characters have real conflicts and problems for which there are no easy fixes. And they are all very likable. A good film to see.

A film by director Noam Murro, "Smart People" stars Dennis Quaid as Lawrence Wetherhold, a pretentious English professor. Lawrence's daughter (Ellen Page), the overachieving Vanessa, is similarly pompous."Smart People's" second half finds Vanessa and Lawrence learning to be less uptight and more sympathetic toward the wants, needs and interests of the "academically challenged". Teaching these lessons are Lawrence's brother (Thomas Church) and a local doctor (Sarah Jessica Parker). Trite but watchable, Thomas Church steals the show as an affable slacker. For a better film about similarly dysfunctional intellectuals, see Noah Baumbach's "The Squid and the Whale".6/10 – Worth one viewing.

This is a comparatively slow-moving film which takes time to explore what teaching for a long time in a university can do to some professors, and what roles single parenting can sometimes mistakenly dissolve into for both parents and their children.The role of the long-suffering, self-contained, in need of renewal/sabbatical/analysis professor was particularly well- written and acted: Dennis Quaid did a great job in this film and, as a viewer, I rarely remembered that he was acting: his demeanor, his stance, his wardrobe, his droning voice--even his eye contact--were just right.As usual, Haden-Church was the actor who made the movie zing. His "just one step out of this dimension" attitude and usual attention to perfection in his acting was a delight. He's one of our great character actors.Ellen Page compels the viewer to watch her delightful portrayal--though I am not yet willing to concede that she is one with her role yet. I continue to enjoy watching her thorough and she is going to be a great actress.I recommend this film highly for thoughtful viewers who enjoy digging into time, place and characters. It's pace is not brisk, but its rewards are great.

Smart people doesn't have all that much originality. Dennis Quaid plays a professor, Sarah Jessica Parker plays a physician who was a former student of Quaid's. Ellen Page plays a Juno like character. And Thomas Hayden Church plays a loser. I told you there wasn't that much originality, but the movie works. The film focuses on a professor(Dennis Quaid) who gets injured one day. also in one day, he meets a doctor(Sarah Jessica Parker) who was a former student of his. Also, when he comes home, he sees that his adoptive brother (Thomas Hayden Church). He starts seeing this doctor and ignores his daughter(Ellen Page). Also, one night his daughter and brother get drunk and she starts to have feelings for him.Alright so there is a lot going on in the plot. This movie is really funny. To me, the humor mostly is from Thomas Hayden Church, and just the littlest things made me laugh in this film. Just read this right here. "What are you doing?" "Watching a documentary on Snow apes". I thought that was funny. So it's not a great movie but I can't help but give it a thumbs up. To me, it seemed like you didn't get that much from Sarah Jessica Parker. Ellen Page plays the same character she does in every movie she is in. But that is okay because I like that character. I liked this movie.Smart People:***/****