The new American film ‘Smart People’ is one of those stories where a man finds himself in a very dark space, one huge rut, and by journey’s end they are back on track again with a new spark.
Martin Quaid plays the main character, English Professor Lawrence Wetherhold. His life has been going downhill since he lost his wife. He has lost interest in his students which is wonderfully demonstrated in a scene where a student comes to knock on his tute door, and before he opens the door he has changed the wall clock to read after 5pm so that he doesn’t have to see him!
The Prof’s other battles are that he is diagnosed with a disabling neurological disorder that means he needs care support, including needing to have someone to drive him around. He enlists his brother Chuck to provide that support though he can’t stand him, especially because his brother is always him for money!
Then the Prof has to also circumnavigate the fine intricacies of his relationships with his two grown up children, Vanessa and James. Vanessa is super smart and always has an answer for everything, but is pretty hopeless with the social skills. She and her brother are always bickering, and the Prof tries to mediate.
In true cinematic romantic tradition what turns the Prof’s life around is a new woman, Dr Janet Hartigan. Janet was the Profs treating Doctor when he was in hospital after his collapse. What comes out is that she used to be a student of the Professor’s and at the time had a crush on him. He picks up that there’s an interest and asks her out on a date.
‘Smart People’ gets my thumbs up! There’s plenty of value for one’s ticket. Naom Murro’s directiing hand was sure, and Mark Poirier’s screenplay very polished. The world of academia was presented well. There was some cracking dialogue and one liners. My favourite; the Wetherhold family are having a miserable Christmas dinner when the front door bell rings. Chuck comments with perfect delivery words to the effect- how rude of someone to interupt our perfect Christmas dinner.
The main cast gave strong performances, creating powerful characters. Dennis Quaid was convincing as the distracted but warm Professor. Sarah Jessica Parker gave a sensitive portrayal of a Doctor playing the romantic cards very carefully after having been hurt so often in love. Thomas Hayden Church was great as the provocative, cheeky Chuck giving a Nick Nolte kind of performance. Ellen Page who came to light in ‘Juno’ shows againn that in her rols as Vanessa that she’s got a strong presence on screen, and a very feisty, intelligent one! Ashton Holmes was good as her brother, James. There was some good work and sparks in the relationships between Vanessa and Chuck, and Vanessa and James.