Smart People

Ellen Page in "Smart People" (Credit: Miramax)

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Gruff college professor Lawrence (Dennis Quaid) is a widower with a hard time connecting to anyone, including his adopted brother Chuck (Thomas Haden Church) and children Vanessa (Ellen Page) and James (Ashton Holmes). But when former student Janet (Sarah Jessica Parker) re-enters his life, Lawrence begins to realize he’s not quite as smart about life as he thought he was.

Big question: Does the movie live up to its worthy cast, including Page in her first major screen appearance post-“Juno”?

Skip it: The cast gives it their all, though it’s Parker who fares best as the most down to Earth character. The supporting players never leave their comfort zones—Page plays a teen who might as well be Juno’s Young Republican cousin and Church isn’t that far off from his breakthrough in “Sideways”—but the usually reliable Quaid never seems comfortable playing a man uneasy in his own skin. If that sounds like it should’ve worked to his advantage, it doesn’t. And the unfortunate casting creates a major void in the film’s center.

Catch it: For one of the most irritating musical scores in recent memory. The incessant use of former Extreme lead guitarist Nuno Bettencourt’s folky compositions will make you want to smash the next acoustic guitar you see.

Bottom line: Even with a better fit in the lead role, it’s a good bet that “Smart People’s” attempts at “Wonder Boys” style adult comedy-drama still would’ve fallen flat. The movie works too hard to achieve a quirky tone that should come effortlessly and the strain is evident.

Bonus: First-time director Noam Murro made his name with commercial work including a “Got Milk?” spot called “Birthday,” but he nearly made his feature debut with an entirely different project: “The Ring Two.”

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