Smart People

Ein gemütlicher Film, der eine gewisse Wärme ausstrahlt. Die Verwandlung eines verbitterten Griesgrams ist zwar nichts Neues, ich habe jedoch eine Menge von Pluspunkten gefunden, deretwegen er nicht in Vergessenheit geraten sollte. Erstens ist es Dennis Quaid, dessen Professor Wetherhold eine seiner besten Rollen ist, und dann das Trio Thomas Haden Church, Ellen Page und Sarah Jessica Parker. Smart People ist ein gefühlvoller Film, voll von sanftem Humor, der mich schnell für sich gewonnen hat. Er verlässt sich vor allem auf die sympathischen Helden, was ihm gelingt. Deshalb bekommt er von mir vier Sterne. (25.07.2010)

A modest, sweet, and very sensitive work. Smart People fits quite neatly into the concept of a charming, independent film through which we can learn, above all, something about ourselves. No need to discuss the fact that the ending is a "typical American happy ending"; what's important here is the journey towards an imaginary goal, the journey towards transforming into someone different, someone who doesn't live for the knowledge that they are better at something than others (even though maybe they really are). Of course, that's not the only message of this film: the character of Chuck, for example, represents the type of seemingly easygoing and almost carefree guy whose biggest problem (it appears) is to find a place to sleep and have something to live on the next day. Three characters (Sarah Jessica Parker is certainly good, but I don't count her among my "holy trinity" from this film), three extremely interesting personalities, and three actors who, without exception, give human performances, yet very convincingly and without any hint of forcedness. It was really quite remarkable how the whole story is presented in such a gentle and human way and how smoothly it manages to keep that up without any difficulty throughout the entire running time. Very nice. (10.11.2012)