Expected more than what I got

The premise of the movie isn't the most original. Dennis Quaid plays a widowed professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He is pompous, acerbic and having a hard time moving on from the death of his wife. He doesn't have much of a relationship with his son and his daughter is an isolated teenager who tries very hard to fill the gaps in their life by being the perfect housekeeper of sorts. The characters in the movie are 'smart people', smart as in intellectual and brainy, but not very good at the social lubrication that is very much a part of everyday life. This makes them isolated and lonely.

Life forces some changes on them and brings in new people into their lives. What I really like about the movie is that none of these characters have any epiphanies or life changing revelations and suddenly become 'better' people. The characters gently come out of their shells and try to become happier people.

The movie traces the several months of the story with good humor without going overboard and the acting is top notch. However.... I liked the premise so much that by the midway point, I was expecting a little more than the rushed climax. It was a little incongruous considering the languid pace of the rest of the movie. So, I came away a little disappointed.

'Smart People' is a mostly smart movie.

7/10