Smart People (2008)

Waste of time

Absolutely brilliant

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

This was not a great movie, not by any stretch. I kept waiting for it to get good and it never did. Don't let them fool you into thinking your time spent watching this will be rewarded with anything of any value because it is simply not here. The cast lured me in because I enjoy all of them and they are all lovely people but this movie somehow just never came together. It is my opinion that I could have spent this time better cleaning the oven or some other dreaded task. I only came here to try to save you the same fate that I encountered. Use the time for something else like checking the tire pressure on every household item. Clean out the fridge perhaps? But do not waste the time I did on this.

a perfect blend of story , performance and humor , movies like this and I wonder , how can I get a movie like this among the garbage I get to see with only better marketing and more stupidity . Ellen page and DENNIS QUID are so talented , I mean he is an accomplished actor and makes it look like a documentary with authentic acting and she is maybe the best in her generation. it is funny too .

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.

So basically, they just told Ellen Page & Sarah Jessica Parker to be themselves and for Dennis Quaid to go watch a few episodes of House (if he hadn't already) and be Hugh Laurie's character for Smart People. If it hadn't been for Uncle Chuck, played by Thomas Haden Church, this movie would have pretty much totally sucked for me. But then, i'm a Cheech & Chong fan and always loved Reverend Jim on Taxi too, so forget about it. I also think Ashton Holmes did well in this and deserved more recognition than he got. I will also say that Smart People has some pleasant scenery and a sweet score, always a plus.... and it does have a decent ending. The fact that some obviously dysfunctional stuff going on in the character's lives gets at all addressed makes it bearable to watch. Worth seeing one time, but not what i'd call a keeper.