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I Smile Back

I Smile Back

Drama · 2015

Laney is an attractive, intelligent suburban wife and devoted mother of two adorable children. She has the perfect husband who plays basketball with the kids in the driveway, a pristine house, and a shiny SUV for carting the children to their next activity. However, just beneath the façade lie depression and disillusionment that send her careening into a secret world of reckless compulsion. Only very real danger will force her to face the painful root of her destructiveness and its crumbling effect on those she loves.

Movie details

I Smile Back

“Love desperately, live recklessly.”

2015 Drama 1h 25m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.1 / 10

Community rating

Laney is an attractive, intelligent suburban wife and devoted mother of two adorable children. She has the perfect husband who plays basketball with the kids in the driveway, a pristine house, and a shiny SUV for carting the children to their next activity. However, just beneath the façade lie depression and disillusionment that send her careening into a secret world of reckless compulsion. Only very real danger will force her to face the painful root of her destructiveness and its crumbling effect on those she loves.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over I Smile Back?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Adam Salky

Written by

Amy Koppelman · Paige Dylan

Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman

Laney Brooks

Josh Charles

Josh Charles

Bruce Brooks

Thomas Sadoski

Thomas Sadoski

Donny

Skylar Gaertner

Skylar Gaertner

Eli Brooks

Chris Sarandon

Chris Sarandon

Roger

Terry Kinney

Terry Kinney

Dr. Page

M

Mia Barron

Susan

Court is in session

Put I Smile Back on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.