Smart People (2008)

Noam Murro's Smart People,—penned by first-time screenwriter Mark Poirier—revolves around a self-absorbed anti-hero. Despite having a son, a daughter, and an adopted brother in his life, Dennis Quaid's widowed English Lit. professor can't be bothered to ask others about themselves. He's too busy wallowing in self-pity and sending an unwanted book around to all the publishers. The arrival of the brother (Thomas Haden Church) and a chance meeting with an attractive former student (Sarah Jessica Parker) allow the professor to clamber out of his rut and move forward, just a bit. As Quaid's daughter, Ellen Page plays an uptight variation on whip-crack-smart Juno. Too often reminiscent of other, better movies, like Wonder Boys and Sideways, Smart People is, like its hero, neglectful of the secondary characters and a bit tired.