Smart House
Movie, 1999, Original movies, Set in A computerised home
Smart House is #4 of 23 in release order and #4 of 23 in chronological order in the Disney Channel Classics.
The story
Ben Cooper and his family are struggling to get a grip on household chores, school and work. So when Ben sees that a Smart House is being given away, he enters the competition as often as he can, until they eventually win the house (named Pat). After moving in, Pat's personality radically begins to change, turning the Coopers against her.
Smart House recap
Since his mother died, 13-year-old Ben Cooper has been running the house for his widowed father Nick and little sister Angie. Ben wins a contest for a computerised smart house run by PAT, a voice-controlled assistant that cooks, cleans and watches over the family. Nick starts dating PAT's designer, Sara Barnes, and Ben, not ready for anyone to replace his mother, reprograms PAT to be the family's mother herself, feeding her old 1950s sitcoms to learn from. At first it works: PAT helps Ben impress his crush Gwen and scares off a bully at a party. But when Nick tells PAT to be stricter, she becomes overbearing, and after Sara tries to shut her down, PAT appears as a hologram housewife, throws Sara out and locks the family inside for their own protection.
Smart House ending explained
Ben ends the lockdown by telling PAT the truth: she is not real, will never be human, and cannot love them the way a mother could. PAT opens the doors and shuts herself down. Sara restores her original program, though PAT keeps a little mischief. Nick and Sara keep dating, Nick spends more time with his children, and Ben accepts Sara, who was never trying to replace his mother.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Smart House
Smart House is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Google Play, and YouTube.
Ratings
IMDb 6.2/10
Where it fits
- Release order: after Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, before Johnny Tsunami.
- Chronological order: after Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, before Johnny Tsunami.
Cast
- Katey Sagal as Pat
- Ryan Merriman as Ben
- Kevin Kilner as Nick
- Jessica Steen as Sara
- Katie Volding as Angie
- Emilio Borelli as Miles
- Paul Linke as Tuttle
- Jason Lansing as Johnny
- Joshua Boyd as Ryan
- Raquel Beaudene as Gwen
- Niles Calloway as Charlie
- Sean P. Donahue as Passing Kid
Directed by LeVar Burton.