Smart People Cast - A Look At The Talented Ensemble
Ever wonder about the folks who bring a story to life on the big screen, especially when that story is about, well, smart people? The 2008 film, "Smart People," presents a rather interesting group of characters and the actors who portray them. It's a picture that, in some respects, explores what happens when brilliant minds try to sort out the everyday mess of family and feelings.
This movie, which came out on DVD in August 2008, features a collection of well-known performers. It's a comedy with a bit of a dark side, really, focusing on academic life and personal struggles. The story, you know, tends to revolve around a university professor who's a bit lost after his wife passes away.
From the leading roles to those who provide a touch of comic relief, the people who make up the cast bring their unique abilities to the screen. It's pretty fascinating to consider how each performer helps to shape the overall mood and message of the film, making it what it is.
Table of Contents
- Lawrence Wetherhold - A Professor's Life on Screen
- Who are the main faces in the cast of Smart People?
- What makes the cast of Smart People stand out?
- The Family Ties - How the cast of Smart People connects
- What is the story behind Smart People?
- How does the cast of Smart People contribute to the film's mood?
- Beyond the Main Story - Other "Smart People" Connections
- What else can we learn about the cast of Smart People?
Lawrence Wetherhold - A Professor's Life on Screen
The central figure in the movie "Smart People" is Lawrence Wetherhold, a character brought to life by the actor Dennis Quaid. He is portrayed as an English professor at Carnegie Mellon, a place that seems to be both his refuge and a setting for his struggles. His story, you see, is one of a widowed parent trying to sort out family dynamics while also looking for love and a path to personal growth. It's a rather complex situation for someone who spends his days in the academic world.
Dennis Quaid takes on the role of this unhappy professor, giving us a picture of a man who is dealing with the loss of his wife and the day-to-day challenges of being a single parent. His performance helps to set the somewhat dark yet comic tone of the film. You get to see his character grapple with affections that might be a bit clumsy, especially when Dr. Janet Hartigan, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, agrees to look after him after an injury. It’s a pretty interesting setup, actually, for a story about personal change.
Personal Details and Character Portrayal
| Character Name | Lawrence Wetherhold |
| Actor Portraying | Dennis Quaid |
| Profession in Film | English Professor at Carnegie Mellon |
| Family Status | Widowed Parent |
| Key Struggles | Family dynamics, finding love, personal growth |
Who are the main faces in the cast of Smart People?
When you look at the people who make up the cast of "Smart People," you find some rather familiar names. Dennis Quaid, as we've mentioned, plays the lead character, Lawrence Wetherhold. Then there's Sarah Jessica Parker, who takes on the part of Dr. Janet Hartigan. You also have Thomas Haden Church, who portrays Chuck Wetherhold, and Elliot Page, who plays Vanessa Wetherhold. These actors, you know, form the core group that drives the story forward.
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The film's credits from 2008 show a collection of actors and actresses, along with the directors and writers who helped shape the movie. It’s quite clear that a group of talented individuals came together to bring this particular story to the screen. Each one, in their own way, helps to build the world of the film, adding depth to the characters and their interactions. It’s pretty much what you’d expect from a film that aims to tell a human story.
Beyond the main family unit, the movie also features other performers who contribute to the overall picture. You can find more about these folks, including their photos and short life stories, on various movie information sites. It’s a way to get a better sense of everyone involved in making the film happen, really, and how they fit into the bigger picture of the cast of "Smart People."
What makes the cast of Smart People stand out?
What makes the group of performers in "Smart People" particularly noteworthy is the quality of their work, even if the story itself received some mixed reactions. The website's general view was that despite having a very capable group of actors and a few funny moments, the story felt a bit thin, preventing it from truly hitting home. This suggests that the strength of the performers was a major plus for the film, even when other elements might have been less impactful. It's almost as if the actors were doing their very best with the material they had.
The presence of people like Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Elliot Page, and Thomas Haden Church, you know, means there's a certain level of experience and skill on display. Their ability to portray complex characters, like a widowed professor or his struggling family members, helps to give the movie its specific flavor. It's pretty much a testament to their acting abilities that they could still make the film engaging for many viewers, despite any shortcomings in the plot. They really do make the most of their roles.
The film, as a comedy from 2008, runs for about an hour and thirty-four minutes and is set in the world of academic life. This setting, where Lawrence and Vanessa Wetherhold find a kind of escape, is brought to life by the interactions of the cast. Their performances help to show how these characters use their intellectual pursuits as a way to deal with things happening outside their immediate world. It’s a subtle but important aspect of the film, actually, and the cast helps to make that clear.
The Family Ties - How the cast of Smart People connects
The story of "Smart People" truly centers on the dynamics within the Wetherhold family. Lawrence Wetherhold, the professor, has a daughter named Vanessa, played by Elliot Page. Then there's his brother, Chuck Wetherhold, brought to the screen by Thomas Haden Church. These relationships, you see, form the core of the personal struggles and growth that the film explores. It's a rather close look at how family members, even when they're very intelligent, can still find themselves in messy situations.
The interactions between Dennis Quaid's Lawrence and Elliot Page's Vanessa are key to the movie's heart. Their relationship as a widowed father and his daughter, who is also dealing with her own challenges, provides much of the film's emotional weight. Similarly, Thomas Haden Church's Chuck adds a different kind of energy to the family mix, often providing some lighter moments or a contrasting perspective. It’s quite interesting how their individual performances weave together to create a believable family unit, even if it’s a somewhat dysfunctional one.
The film's plot summary often highlights these character breakdowns, showing how each person fits into the overall narrative. It includes young adult and adult characters, making it a story that many can relate to. The small cast of lead characters means that each actor has a significant part to play in showing these family connections. So, in a way, the performances really do shape how we understand the family's journey.
What is the story behind Smart People?
"Smart People" tells the darkly comic story of Lawrence Wetherhold, a widowed and rather unhappy English professor. His life takes a turn when Dr. Janet Hartigan, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, agrees to look after him after he gets hurt. Little does she know, she'll soon have to deal with his somewhat awkward attempts at affection and the challenging attitude of his young daughter. This setup, you know, creates a situation ripe for both humor and personal discovery.
The movie, directed by Noam Murro, features Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Elliot Page, and Thomas Haden Church in these key roles. It's a narrative that explores the professor's attempts to move forward in life, dealing with both his family and his own feelings. The story, in some respects, is about how even very bright people can struggle with the everyday aspects of living and loving. It's pretty much a look at human vulnerability, despite intellectual prowess.
The plot summary often mentions the academic setting as a place where both Lawrence and Vanessa find a kind of refuge, plunging themselves into it as an escape from the outside world. This context, provided by the story, helps to explain some of the characters' behaviors and their struggles. It’s a rather insightful way to frame a story about personal growth, actually, showing how people cope with their inner lives.
How does the cast of Smart People contribute to the film's mood?
The collective efforts of the cast of "Smart People" play a big part in setting the overall mood of the film. Dennis Quaid's portrayal of Lawrence Wetherhold, for instance, brings a certain level of unhappiness and arrogance to the character, which helps to establish the "darkly comic" aspect of the story. His performance, you know, makes you feel for the character even when he's being difficult. Sarah Jessica Parker, as Dr. Janet Hartigan, brings a different kind of energy, offering a contrast to Lawrence's often grumpy demeanor.
Elliot Page's performance as Vanessa Wetherhold adds a layer of youthful angst and intelligence, contributing to the family dynamics that are so central to the film's atmosphere. Thomas Haden Church, as Chuck Wetherhold, often provides moments of comic relief, lightening the mood when things get a bit too heavy. His presence, really, helps to balance the more serious elements of the story, making it more approachable for viewers. It’s almost as if each actor is responsible for a different shade of the film's emotional palette.
Even though the critical consensus suggested the plot was a bit thin, the performances by this group of actors helped to keep people engaged. The fact that 151 reviews were positive, with an average rating of 5.7 out of 10, suggests that the acting was a strong point for many who saw the movie. So, in a way, the cast’s ability to create believable and engaging characters was crucial in shaping how the film was received. They really did make the story feel more substantial.
Beyond the Main Story - Other "Smart People" Connections
It's interesting to note that the name "Smart People" or similar ideas pop up in other contexts beyond the 2008 film. For instance, there's a 1946 American film noir crime drama called "Two Smart People," which also has its own cast and crew. This older movie, starring Lucille Ball and John Hodiak, shows that the idea of "smart people" in a film title isn't entirely new. It's pretty much a common thread in storytelling, you know, to focus on clever characters.
The concept of "smart" also extends to technology, like "Smart TVs" and "Smart Home features." While not directly about the movie's cast, the text mentions things like "Smart View," "Samsung AllShare," and "AllCast" for casting web videos to TVs. It also talks about LG WebOS and Samsung's Tizen operating system for smart TVs. This shows how the word "smart" has a broader meaning in our everyday lives, going beyond just human intelligence in a film. It’s quite a different kind of "smart," actually.
The text also makes a brief mention of shows like "Arrested Development" and "Community" as examples of "shows about dumb people for smart people." This little aside suggests a broader conversation about how intelligence is portrayed in media, and how audiences, you know, might enjoy stories that play with these ideas. It’s a way of looking at how different types of "smart" entertainment are created and consumed, even if it's not directly about the cast of "Smart People" from 2008.
What else can we learn about the cast of Smart People?
For those who want to know more about the performers in "Smart People," there are plenty of resources available. Movie information sites like TV Guide and Moviefone offer details about the full cast and crew. You can find news, photos, and videos related to the film and the people who made it. It’s pretty much a way to get a deeper look into the creative team and their insights into the movie, you know, beyond just watching the film itself.
These resources often provide detailed bios and filmographies, giving you a sense of the actors' other works and their careers. For instance, you can learn about Dennis Quaid's other movie release dates or Sarah Jessica Parker's previous roles. It’s a way to appreciate the breadth of their talents and how they've contributed to the entertainment world over time. So, in a way, you get to see how the cast of "Smart People" fits into a larger picture of acting careers.
The movie's presence on DVD, released in August 2008, also made it widely available for people to watch and re-watch. This allows viewers to really focus on the performances and the way the actors bring their characters to life. It’s a chance to see the nuances in their acting and how they contribute to the film's overall feel. It’s quite a good way, actually, to truly appreciate the work of the people who make up the cast of "Smart People."
This article has explored the 2008 film "Smart People," focusing on its main actors and their roles. We looked at Dennis Quaid's portrayal of Lawrence Wetherhold, the central character, and provided a table with his character's details. We also discussed the other key faces in the cast, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Haden Church, and Elliot Page, and considered what makes their performances notable. The article touched upon the family relationships that drive the story and the overall plot of the film. Finally, we considered how the cast contributes to the movie's mood and briefly mentioned other uses of the term "smart people" in different contexts, along with resources for learning more about the film's performers.
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