The Secret Lives of Dentists

Critics Consensus

A witty and honest look at marriage in decay.

85%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 95

58%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 2,975
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Movie Info

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.

Cast

Campbell Scott
as David Hurst
Hope Davis
as Dana Hurst
Denis Leary
as Slater
Robin Tunney
as Laura
Peter Samuel
as Larry
Jon Patrick Walker
as Mark
Gianna Beleno
as Lizzie Hurst
Lydia Jordan
as Stephanie Hurst
Cassidy Hinkle
as Leah Hurst
Adele D'Man
as Carol
Kathleen Kinhan
as Virgin
Sara Lerch
as Virgin
Lori Mirabel
as Virgin
Mark Ethan
as Conductor
Flora Martinez
as Female Patient
J. Tucker Smith
as Handsome Patient
Kevin Carroll
as Dr. Danny
Kate Clinton
as Elaine
Herbert Ade
as Male Patient
Aisha de Haas
as Policewoman
Susie Essman
as Nurse
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Critic Reviews for The Secret Lives of Dentists

All Critics (95) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (81) | Rotten (14)

  • Rudolph's fondness for angular, oblique characterization is ideally suited to the movie's incidental story of sublimated feelings and contradictory impulses.

    Nov 14, 2003 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

    Geoff Pevere

    Toronto Star
    Top Critic

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

    Nov 14, 2003 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Rick Groen

    Globe and Mail
    Top Critic

  • 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.

    Sep 11, 2003 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    John Monaghan

    Detroit Free Press
    Top Critic

  • 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.

    Sep 5, 2003 | Full Review…

    Roger Moore

    Orlando Sentinel
    Top Critic

  • Rudolph's past work has been spotty, but his stress here on familial sovereignty is moving, as is his direction of the three children.

    Sep 3, 2003

    Stanley Kauffmann

    The New Republic
    Top Critic

  • A faultlessly constructed, artistic look at love, loss and truths we can't ignore.

    Aug 28, 2003 | Rating: 4/5

    Bill Muller

    Arizona Republic
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (95)

Audience Reviews for The Secret Lives of Dentists

  • Sep 25, 2012
    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.
    John B Super Reviewer
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