04 August 2008

Movie Chit-Chat: Smart People

Who knew that an unwanted pregnancy can cure all life's problems? Even the horrifyingly intelligent Prof. Lawrence Whetherhold didn't see that coming. The movie Smart People is a nice movie about a rather dysfunctional family, the Whetherholds, that consists of an arrogant depressed professor-slash-dad (Dennis Quaid), an overachieving no-fun daughter (Juno's Ellen Page), and a good-for-nothing uncle (Thomas Haden Church). Throughout the movie, these characters dealt with their complicated problems, strained their relationships, yet in the end, they all came together. To me, it was like watching Little Miss Sunshine: no fights, no explosions, no scantily-clad female villains; just pure tender story of a family trying to be, well, a family. It simply makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

However, I found that it's not so easy to praise. There's something missing that deprives this movie of being a great movie. I struggled to put together the story together in my head because it felt somewhat choppy. There wasn't enough room for really bringing out the character of these people, to really know their story. Suddenly Sarah Jessica Parker got knocked up, and they all unite for the baby.

As far as I'm concerned, it is an entertaining movie, although definitely not a "must see". Especially if you're in the mood for some serious action or you'd rather watch terracotta soldiers rise from the dead.

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