Sarah Jessica Parker and Dennis Quaid in "Smart People"
courtesy of Disney Home Entertainment
“Get Smarter”

Sometimes a good movie will just sneak up on you. Such a film is “Smart People,” now out on DVD. Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page and Thomas Haden Church co-star in this warm and witty movie that never underestimates the intelligence of its audience. A clever script and solid performances make this a better movie than it should be. It’s all about personalities and how they interact. There are no gun fights, no car chases; just a story about people growing up and becoming better. 

The person at the center of the story is English Professor Lawrence Wetherhold (Quaid). Lawrence is a widower with two children. He has a son James (Ashton Holmes) who is in college. He has a daughter Vanessa (Ellen Page) who is a senior in high school. They are all very smart people.

Lawrence also has an adopted brother Chuck (Church) who does not appear to be as bright as the rest of the family. He comes to see Lawrence to ask for a handout, as he is between jobs. Lawrence says no but then hires him to be his driver after he suffers a seizure. 

The seizure also causes him to end up in the Emergency Room where he is treated by Dr. Janet Hartigan (Parker). It turns out she is one of his former students and actually had a crush on him. Lawrence awkwardly asks Janet out and a shaky relationship develops between them. For some reason Janet is able to see beneath his gruff exterior.

The movie is all about the relationships between these five people and how they grow and emerge. It is purely personality driven with no action sequences to liven things up. The script is smart and funny, and the characters are human and warm. This is one of the rare movies of late that actually develops the characters and lets the audience feel as though they know and understand them.

Quaid shines in his role as Lawrence. This is the most non typical Quaid role he has ever played. He has a full beard in this movie and looks professorial down to the paunch around his waist. Plus he has a strange shuffling type of walk. Still nothing can hide the trademark twinkle in Quaid’s eyes and you can see why Dr. Hartigan could fall for this man.

Parker is adorable as the easy to love Dr. Hartigan. She and Quaid make a good match on screen. She uses her character to humanize his. Church is absolutely hilarious as the ne’er do well Chuck. His character interacts mostly with Page’s and the two of them are a dynamic duo.

Page won our hearts as “Juno” and now does it all over again as Vanessa. This young actress has a bright future ahead of her as she enhances each and every role she undertakes.
“Smart People” is an out of the ordinary movie that works because of its sensible and surprising script as well as its perfectly cast actors. All of them are good but it is Page who steals the show.

If you want to see a film that will make you think and will also steal your heart, then “Smart People” is it. It might even raise your IQ.

Not as smart, but still interesting, is “Felon.” This is one of those movies about the innocent guy who is sent to prison and must survive under the most horrific circumstances. Stephen Dorff plays the innocent guy and Val Kilmer plays his cell mate. The twist in this movie is that the cell mate is also a good guy.

Sam Shepard, Anne Archer and Harold Perrineau are also in the cast. Perrineau is noticeable for his role as a sadistic guard. There always has to be one. Marisol Nichols plays Dorff’s wife and the mother of his son.

“Felon” isn’t a great movie but it is worth watching on DVD.

The life of a salesman is the basis of the comedy “Outside Sales.” This film was written, directed and stars Blayne Weaver. He plays a man in strict competition with a female salesperson (Tricia O’Kelley). He has to close more deals than her in order to save his job. Let the games begin!

The comedy is fair and the plot is okay, but nothing really elevates this movie to more than just average. Still you might want to watch it to pass an evening by. It is “Outside Sales.”

The Little Einsteins are in movies aimed at the preschooler set. Their latest adventures are collected in the DVD titled “Little Einsteins: Flight of the Instrument Fairies.” Here you will find four adventures with the Little Einsteins and they all involve music in some way.

Your preschoolers will be entertained and educated in a very subtle way. So get “Little Einsteins: Flight of the Instrument Fairies” and let them enjoy all four adventures contained on this disc.

“CJ7” is a family film from noted director Stephen Chow. He also stars in this film about a father (Chow), his son (Xu Jiao) and a mysterious “pet.” This movie has warmth, heart and comedy as well as slapstick moves and happenings. It is the best and most enjoyable Stephen Chow movie yet – even more so than “Kung Fu Hustle” which was really funny.

The movie is in English so you and your entire family can enjoy it. So don’t waste time, get this movie tonight!

Another family film is “Frank.” This is a movie about a slobbery, drooling, lovable dog that takes up with a family on vacation. At first the father (Jon Gries) wants the dog gone, but eventually he wins the day and the hearts of everyone.

Family films are always bonding time and this one is a good one to form the bonding glue. Watch it withy our kids and you’ll find yourself laughing along with them.
 

 

 

 

 

©2008 Jackie K. Cooper

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