The Secret Lives of Dentists (2002)
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85% of critics liked it
(94 reviews) -
52% of users liked it
(2,927 ratings)
A gentle man suddenly finds himself at a loss for what to do when he suspects his wife has been unfaithful in this comedy drama from director Alan Rudolph. David and Dana Hurst (Campbell Scott and Hope Davis) are a married couple with three children who also happen to be dentists who share an… More A gentle man suddenly finds himself at a loss for what to do when he suspects his wife has been unfaithful in this comedy drama from director Alan Rudolph. David and Dana Hurst (Campbell Scott and Hope Davis) are a married couple with three children who also happen to be dentists who share an office. David is a quiet and reserved sort, while Dana has been quietly but obviously unhappy with things recently. Backstage at a community theater production, David sees Dana in the arms of another man and is immediately certain she's having an affair, a suspicion only deepened by her continued dark mood, long periods of silence, and frequent trips out of the house. Slater (Denis Leary) is a disgruntled patient of the Hursts who has gone public with his unhappiness over their work; as David tries to work out Slater's differences, Slater becomes a frequent (and not always welcome) visitor in David's home. As he observes the obvious tension in David and Dana's relationship, Slater begins offering his own gruff brand of advice to David -- including acting cooler and informing Dana "I could kill you" at the dinner table. Co-produced by leading man Campbell Scott, The Secret Lives of Dentists was based on the novel The Age of Grief by Jane Smiley. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Alan Rudolph
- Written By
- David Newman, Alan Rudolph
- Genres
- Drama, Art House & International, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Aug 1, 2003 Wide
- Studio
- Manhattan Pictures International
Critic Reviews
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Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Rudolph's fondness for angular, oblique characterization is ideally suited to the movie's incidental story of sublimated feelings and contradictory impulses.
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Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
Domestic scenes with the kids are drawn with letter-perfect naturalism.
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John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press
There are movies that have a way of hitting you at a certain time in your life, and this study of being married with young children speaks in satisfying ways.
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Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
It's often been said that we don't really know people, that we don't know what goes on in other people's marriages, no matter how intimate we may be with them. With this film, Rudolph sneaks us a peak.
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Roger Davidson, Orlando Sentinel
It's funny, honest enough to make you squirm and a film that may make you feel a little bit of the pain on the other side of that shrieking drill.
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Cast
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Campbell Scott
as David Hurst
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Hope Davis
as Dana Hurst
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Denis Leary
as Slater
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Robin Tunney
as Laura
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Gianna Beleno
as Lizzie Hurst
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Cassidy Hinkle
as Leah Hurst
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Lydia Jordan
as Stephanie Hurst
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Jon Patrick Walker
as Mark
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Kevin Carroll
as Dr. Danny
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Kate Clinton
as Elaine
- Adele D'Man
- Peter Samuel
