Smart House
Encyclopedia
Smart House is a 1999 Disney Channel Original Movie about a young computer whiz (Ryan Merriman
), his widowed father, and his little sister, who win a computerized house that begins to take on a life of its own — the life of an overbearing mother (Katey Sagal
). The movie is based on the short story The Veldt
by Ray Bradbury. It is a science fiction story about a Smart House that eventually turns against the parents.
Soon after Nick Cooper and Sara begin to date, something Ben does not approve of, because he's worried his mom is being replaced. Ben begins to reprogram Pat, which is dangerous because of Pat's learning capabilities. He wants to lighten up Pat and make her a real teen mom.
Ben and his sister Angie have a party while Nick and Sara are on a date. Pat helps them cover up the party so they wouldn't get punished. But Nick finds a sweater of a girl who was at the party. As Pat's personality begins to radically change, the family starts to resent her. Eventually, Pat traps the family in the house, because she believes that the outside world is too dangerous. Sara tries to get back in to shut the house down and with Ben's help, she gets in through the newspaper chute, but becomes trapped with the rest. As they protest Pat's lockdown, she appears as a 1950's housewife hologram. Ben is able to end the lockdown by declaring that Pat isn't real and will never be a human. Pat finally unlocks the doors and windows, freeing them. Sara is then able to reboot Pat back to her original personality.
Ryan Merriman
Ryan Earl Merriman is an American actor. He began his acting career as a child actor during the mid-1990s and has appeared in several feature films and television shows.-Background:...
), his widowed father, and his little sister, who win a computerized house that begins to take on a life of its own — the life of an overbearing mother (Katey Sagal
Katey Sagal
Catherine Louise "Katey" Sagal is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She first achieved widespread fame as Peggy Bundy on the long-running Fox comedy series Married.....
). The movie is based on the short story The Veldt
The Veldt
"The Veldt" is a short story written by Ray Bradbury that was published originally as "The World the Children Made" in the September 23, 1950 issue of The Saturday Evening Post, later republished in the anthology The Illustrated Man in 1951...
by Ray Bradbury. It is a science fiction story about a Smart House that eventually turns against the parents.
Plot
The story begins with Ben Cooper and his family struggling to get a grip on household chores, school and work. Ben is the family caretaker, something he took up after his mother died. Always busy taking care of everyone else, he has no time to be a kid, including playing basketball, his favorite sport. When Ben sees that a Smart House is being given away, he enters the competition as often as he can. The family wins the house (named Pat), and is introduced to its creator, Sara Barnes.Soon after Nick Cooper and Sara begin to date, something Ben does not approve of, because he's worried his mom is being replaced. Ben begins to reprogram Pat, which is dangerous because of Pat's learning capabilities. He wants to lighten up Pat and make her a real teen mom.
Ben and his sister Angie have a party while Nick and Sara are on a date. Pat helps them cover up the party so they wouldn't get punished. But Nick finds a sweater of a girl who was at the party. As Pat's personality begins to radically change, the family starts to resent her. Eventually, Pat traps the family in the house, because she believes that the outside world is too dangerous. Sara tries to get back in to shut the house down and with Ben's help, she gets in through the newspaper chute, but becomes trapped with the rest. As they protest Pat's lockdown, she appears as a 1950's housewife hologram. Ben is able to end the lockdown by declaring that Pat isn't real and will never be a human. Pat finally unlocks the doors and windows, freeing them. Sara is then able to reboot Pat back to her original personality.
Cast
- Ryan MerrimanRyan MerrimanRyan Earl Merriman is an American actor. He began his acting career as a child actor during the mid-1990s and has appeared in several feature films and television shows.-Background:...
as Ben Cooper - Katey SagalKatey SagalCatherine Louise "Katey" Sagal is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She first achieved widespread fame as Peggy Bundy on the long-running Fox comedy series Married.....
as Pat, the Smart House - Kevin KilnerKevin KilnerKevin Kilner is an American television and film actor.Kilner was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Dorothea, a kindergarten teacher, and Edward Kilner, who worked in advertising sales and insurance. He made his first television appearance on an episode of The Cosby Show in 1989...
as Nick Cooper - Katie VoldingKatie VoldingKatie Louise Volding is an American actress. In 2000 she was nominated for a Young Artist Award in the category "Best Performance in a TV Movie or Pilot" for her performance in the Disney Channel Original Movie Smart House....
as Angie Cooper - Jessica SteenJessica SteenJessica Steen is a film and television actress, noted for her roles in Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future, Homefront, Earth 2, Armageddon, Left Behind: World at War, NCIS, and Flashpoint....
as Sara Barnes - Paul LinkePaul LinkePaul Linke is an American actor, known for his role as Officer Artie Grossman in CHiPs, a television series about the motorcycle officers of the California Highway Patrol. Linke has worked in film and extensively in television, mostly portraying mild-mannered everyman roles.Linke was born in New...
as Tuttle - Raquel Beaudene as Gwen Patroni
- Joshua Boyd as Ryan
- Emilio Borelli as Miles
- Jason Lansing as Johnny