Moviegoers who have had enough of the conventional drama and the reeled-off character development will be delighted to discover this week-end’s premiere, a witty comedy-drama that reunites four renowned cinematographic stars.

As its title suggests, “Smart People” focuses on the drama of intellectuals who cannot at least fit into the normal world, lest derive any joy from it. The movie, that bears the signature of Miramax, is a mixture of elements of academic lifestyle and of quotidian, bare life, creating an antagonism that in the same time draws sympathy and belly laughs from the audience.

The script was written by novelist Mark Jude Poirier, so expectances that the lines would be rapid and full of wisdom, conveying both depth and humor, will not be failed. In the meantime, the movie is flawlessly directed by Noam Murro, a commercial director who has won enough awards to make him talented and confident enough to switch from ads to movies, without making a mistake.

Beyond the plot and direction, the movie is made even more enjoyable by the A-list actors that star in it. ”Smart People” doesn’t focus on one or just a few Hollywood stars that would chip in both talent and fame, instead, Murro’s cinematographic approach gathers great names coming from different corners of movie genres. Firstly, there is Dennis Quaid, who hasn’t been one of Hollywood’s favorites, though he incontestably has done great work in movies like ”The Rookie” (2002) or more recently, in 2008’s “Vantage Point.” Then we have Oscar-nominee Ellen Page, even more satyrical and just as talented as we’ve seen her in ”Juno,” and Academy Awards shortlisted Thomas Haden Church (2004’s “Sideways”). And last, but not the least Sarah Jessica Parker, who has done a marvelous job in TV hit series “Sex and the City,” but managed to demonstrate that her success back then was not only a matter of circumstances and that her skills prolong further than the eight-season TV series.

Quaid’s character, Lawrence Wetherhold, is a literature professor at the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, a misanthrope who cannot even remember his students, lest appreciate them in any moment. Self-centered, he considers himself to be too intelligent to lower his nose to any other mortal - be that one of his students or one of his fellow colleagues. His genius is materialized in a book whose title is hard to pronounce, not to mention comprehended, “The Price of Postmodernism: Epistemology, Hermeneutics and the Literary Canon,” and most of all, hard to be published.

Wetherhold seems to explain his self-indulgence by his uncommon intelligence, but it actually also stems from his wife’s death, which he has not overcome. His tragedy is his depression, his lack of interest in anything, not even in his domain of expertise, the Victorian literature. The protagonist is the father of two, son James (Ashton Holmes), a Carnegie Mellon student and a closet poet who cannot tolerate his father’s egocentrism anymore; and daughter Vanessa (Ellen Page) who sees him as a role model. Vanessa is as hard-headed as her father, stunningly smart and equally sardonic, a 17-year old with strong neo-conservative political views, embodying the child who is too mature for her age.

The movie’s title is not coincidently referring to its characters as “smart,” and not “intelligent,” as they are in fact just smart. Their brain is furnished with academic information, but cannot provide them the necessary abilities to be socially integrated or at least happy with themselves.

Wetherhold’s oblivion of every rule gets him a head trauma that lands him in hospital. There he is taken care of by a sultry doctor, Janet (Sarah Jessica Parker), a former literature student of his-turned doctor, disappointed by a bad mark given by him, who was not only her professor, but also her love interest. The crush is rekindled, and the clumsiness of their romantic link gives headaches to both them and the viewers.

In the meantime, from the middle of nowhere appears his ne'er-do-well adopted brother, Chuck (Church), who is financially challenged and chooses on his own to spend some time at his brother’s house. Being unable to drive for a while, Wetherhold is forced to ask Chuck to be his clumsy driver. In fact Chuck is the opposite of both his brother and niece and in the meantime, the male homologue of Janet: an adult with a childish behavior that succeeds to turn their world around.

In no time will “Smart People” be catalogued as a “must see” movie, but it will definitely be regarded as a charming production to brighten either a sullen day or a depression.

Movie Type: Comedy, Drama
MPAA Rating: R for language, brief teen drug and alcohol use and for some sexuality.
Running Time: 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Noam Murro
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Thomas Haden Church, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page, Camille Mana
Released: April 11th, 2008 (limited)