The Secret Lives of Dentists

REVIEW
A visit to the dentist may be a frightening experience for some of us, but after that root canal, did you ever wonder what your dentist's private life might be like? Acclaimed American independent filmmaker Alan Rudolph provides a captivating glimpse into the dysfunctional marriage of two dentists. With his familiar brand of offbeat humor, supported by magnetic performances from Campbell Scott and Hope Davis, Rudolph crafts a keen human portrait of lives on the brink of a meltdown.

Based on Jane Smiley's novella "The Age of Grief," The Secret Lives of Dentists introduces us to Dave Hurst (Scott), who shares three children, two homes and a private practice with his dentist wife, Dana (Davis). Their lives seem placid at first, until one night when Dave thinks he sees his wife kissing another man, triggering that ugly green-eyed monster called jealousy. His repressed feelings torment him and a darker alter ego appears in the form of disgruntled patient Slater (the wickedly funny Denis Leary), who goads the demure dentist into seeking an aggressive resolution to the problem. Rudolph's previous films have personified a director with a unique vision and style, and The Secret Lives of Dentists is a sharp observation of a couple making small mistakes in an attempt to preserve their passion, not to mention their very comfortable lives. The results are funny, fantastical, and completely original.