The Secret Lives of Dentists

R

Released Aug 1, 2003

1 hr. 41 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

85%

94 Reviews

Tomatometer

58%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

David Hurst (Campbell Scott) is a mild-mannered dentist who shares a practice with his wife, Dana (Hope Davis). Concerned about Dana's recent sullen moods, David begins to suspect that she is cheating on him. As David becomes deeply unsettled by the possibility of Dana's infidelity, he begins having extended conversations with Slater (Denis Leary), a surly patient who dispenses plenty of blunt advice. Can Dana and David reconcile and save their marriage, or are they destined to separate?

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Critics Consensus

A witty and honest look at marriage in decay.

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Audience Member

If you write a movie and would like to go in a crazy direction, DO go in a crazy direction! Don't just masturbate with the idea of going in a crazy direction! On the good side: Campbell Scott is such an underrated actor! Too bad something about this film is terribly off. It started in a terrific way but from a certain point it simply didn't dare to go further and it had to because it had promised us all exactly that!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Audience Member

Really liked the husband and the kids....not so much the wife.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Audience Member

Not too popular on the fan metre but I actually enjoyed this film.There is a nice natural feel to the characters brimming with honesty.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

1 star for having a plot that could actually happen and not unyielding the the strains of reality. -4 for being a cheezy Fight Club meets American Beauty knock off which is over lit and silly. Clashing of montage, Cinematography, acting and style, and general tone makes this a brutal and silly popcorn film with too much realism and lack of reality. Hmm, if that's confusing, then think of it as a Rococo painting of somebody doing the dishes (and then going crazy and add in some Dante Inferno style art).

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

WOW, this movie just reaches right off of the screen and grabs you by the heart. Dennis Leary is his typical Asshole self, while Campbell Scott and Hope Davis, have delight full roles that they fill with passion. The directing by Alan Rudolph, of the movie was fantastic, however, I was a litte confused on if Slater ever actually existed/when he was real and when he was only in David Hurst's head. All around it provides an emotional heartfelt movie that, that delves into a subject that like David, not many of us want to talk about. Enjoy!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

For Fans Of: Maritial Drama, Hope Davis, Denis Leary Date Night: Nope Art Factor: Low Fun Factor: Low Emotional Factor: Low Intelligence Required: Low Essential Viewing: No Let's get the good stuff about this flick out of the way first. The acting is pretty good in this one. Hope Davis always comes through on anything she appears in so that wasn't a big shock. Denis Leary is kind of like the drunken American-Irish equal of Russell Brand, funny, but very one note. Nothing changes here. Campbell Scott, the "other lead" is one of those guys that you always recognize, but will never bother to learn his name. You all know the type. Good actor, just not memorable enough to remember his name. Oh, the kids in the film, annoying as hell, were good at it. Ok, lets get down to brass tacks. The movie looks awful. The direction and shot selections remind me of a lifetime movie, the kind my mother loves to watch on Sundays. I mean, poor lighting, bad angles, you name it, it happens. The script starts out really edgy and creative, and then ploop, goes right in the shitter. Leary switches roles half way through the movie and starts playing a broke ass version of Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt from Fight Club). The movie just turns into one big long dentist pity party with a shit resolution. There was massive potential here. Good cast, creative and original idea, but the follow through just kind of went limp. My advice is to probably avoid unless you just have a love for one of the leads or you love the Lifetime movie network.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

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Alan Rudolph

Director

Campbell Scott

David Hurst

Hope Davis

Dana Hurst

Denis Leary

Slater

Robin Tunney

Laura

Gianna Beleno

Lizzie Hurst

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 3/5

Aug 14, 2005

Full Review

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.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 14, 2003

Full Review

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Domestic scenes with the kids are drawn with letter-perfect naturalism.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 14, 2003

Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

A profound study of lack of communication in a marriage with some great performances from Scott, Davis, and Leary.

Apr 29, 2009

Full Review

Mark Halverson

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 3/5

Aug 7, 2008

Full Review

Joe Lozito

Big Picture Big Sound

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 14, 2007

Full Review

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Synopsis

David Hurst (Campbell Scott) is a mild-mannered dentist who shares a practice with his wife, Dana (Hope Davis). Concerned about Dana's recent sullen moods, David begins to suspect that she is cheating on him. As David becomes deeply unsettled by the possibility of Dana's infidelity, he begins having extended conversations with Slater (Denis Leary), a surly patient who dispenses plenty of blunt advice. Can Dana and David reconcile and save their marriage, or are they destined to separate?

Director: Alan Rudolph
Executive Producer: Martin Garvey, David Newman, Bruce Cowen, Michael Lauer
Screenwriter: Craig Lucas
Distributor: Manhattan Pictures International
Production Co: Holedigger Films Inc., Ready Made Film
Rating: R (Language|Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 1, 2003, Wide
Release Date (DVD): Dec 2, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.7M
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, SDDS, DTS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR