You can pretty much guess that the title “Smart People” is not to be taken at face value. This is a movie about smart people doing stupid things.
Chief among the smarties is a university professor, Lawrence Wetherhold, played by Dennis Quaid. A self-absorbed widower who can’t get his latest book published, Lawrence long ago checked out of life.
He has a teenage daughter (“Juno” breakout Ellen Page), whose form of rebellion is to become controlling and Republican. An older brother (Ashton Holmes) is less of a factor.
A couple of things arrive to break up the stasis. A doctor (Sarah Jessica Parker), who happens to be Lawrence’s former student, treats him for a minor injury and tries to penetrate his gruff, protective exterior.
And Lawrence’s stepbrother (Thomas Haden Church) rolls up to the Wetherhold home, needing a couch to sleep on. He’s goofy and irresponsible, not unlike the character this actor nailed so memorably in “Sideways,” and naturally he will have an effect on things, especially the straight-laced daughter.
Occasionally, novelist Mark Poirier’s script hints at some uncomfortable territory, especially in the relationship between uncle and niece. But the film is too tame to go there.
It certainly is enjoyable for a while, given the literate dialogue and the pleasant Pittsburgh locations. (The college is Carnegie-Mellon University.) Ellen Page brings her brittle wisecrackery to the amusing family scenes, and Church is just dandy.
Quaid looks appropriately terrible, although he has a tendency to indicate the professor’s shortcomings, rather than embodying them. You can’t help but flash on Michael Douglas in “Wonder Boys,” a better movie on a similar subject.
Director Noam Murro comes from the world of TV commercials, which might explain why the timing feels off; scenes go on a beat too long, reactions are held beyond their purpose.
It’s the kind of movie that puts great stock in facial hair — Quaid’s protective beard, Church’s silly mustache. The film settles for looking at the surface of these smart people.
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