Smart People

Hate to do two movie posts in a row like this, but Candace and I went to see Smart People last night, so why not? (besides, how long has it been since I did a couple movie posts even a couple days apart?...most likely not since my Holland blog). Anyway, the film was alright. It has a solid cast, but I just feel it was too much like The Squid and the Whale: virtually everything good I could say about this movie was done better in The Squid and the Whale.

The story follows Dennis Quaid's character (a too-brainy/self-important for-his-own-good collegiate English professor) and his family as they try to come to terms with their awkward, sometimes pretentious, and certainly dysfunctional family going through some relationship changes. For me, all of the film's strong moments are carried by Thomas Haden Church and Ellen Page, as Dennis Quaid's character was more frustrating than anything. Ultimately, I didn't feel the film had a whole to say, but it did manage to entertain me just fine for an hour an a half or so, so no big complaints.