Smart People

View Date: 12/11/09

Dennis Quaid plays a widowed professor known for being an exceptionally tough grader and grouchy in general. Ellen Page portrays his daughter who is just like him, while his son wants to have fun at college, not just be a know-it-all. When his adopted brother comes to visit, he bonds with the daughter and tries to get the family to loosen up a bit.

Quaid’s character runs into a former student in the hospital and they begin to date. She gets him to open up a bit, but he still mourns his wife. He is also very self-centered, and does not realize how much the people around him need him.

My description above just doesn’t do this movie justice. While it is not a comedy, it does have several funny moments and others you just have to shake your head at. Quaid played the part of an overweight, middle-aged man impeccably. He altered his walk and developed a bit of a shuffle, and perfectly portrayed the pompous college professor who truly believes the rest of the world is dumber than he is. Overall, the acting was superb throughout.

I wound up really liking this movie, and am glad in the end that I watched it.

10 words or less: Accurate portrayals in a really good film.