First Hit: Although billed as a romantic comedy, it seemed more of a drama with some good acting.
There are four really good parts in this film and they're handled admirably by Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page and Thomas Haden Church.
This mix of brings together a dynamic set of characters in a movie that has an underlying dull tone. Quaid plays a professor who has lost his wife and his drive for living an engaged life. He is cynical, lazy, non-caring, and buries his sadness and hurt by just checking out.
When someone approaches him in his field of expertise, he quickly sizes them up and cuts them down as being unworthy of this time. His daughter, played by Page, is lost in her own way. She is the family glue while also attempting to be perfect.
She's a perfect Republican, Student, and by filling in for her deceased mother she's the perfect daughter. She is also a cynical wise cracking friendless lonely girl who doesn’t want anyone to interrupt their household until she heads off to college.
Quaid gets hurt in a fall and because of the injury has to be driven everywhere he goes. Paige doesn’t want to do this and brings in Quaid’s brother Church who is a drifter and loner that is always broke and finds scams for jobs. He gets the job of driving for Quaid, moves in and causes havoc, and misses many of his appointments to pick up Quaid. While at the hospital Quaid is treated by Parker who was a former infatuated student of his and is now a physician. They begin to date which causes an upheaval in the household.
Overall: The acting was very good and the characters interesting but I would have like more on the Parker and Quaid relationship and less on the Page and Church relationship.