Thank you? The pleasure was all mine

The rarest commodity in all of filmmaking is the intelligent comedy. The theaters are loaded with so-called comedies aimed squarely at the sensibilities of adolescents. They come and go without most adults being aware they were made.

Fortunately, the smart and literate “Thank You for Smoking” is in theaters now. Starring Aaron Eckhart as Nick Naylor, the tobacco industry’s chief lobbyist, the film is able to render a pariah of modern society sympathetic and, on a certain level, defensible.

Naylor is a handsome career lobbyist who is divorced and struggling to maintain a meaningful relationship with his son Joey (Cameron Bright). Nick describes himself as “the guy who always got the girl, on crack.” To say he has the gift of gab is a considerable understatement.

Nick frequently commiserates with two friends, who are collectively known as the MOD Squad, as in Merchants Of Death. The other members are alcohol lobbyist Polly Bailey (Maria Bello) and firearms lobbyist Bobby Jay Bliss (David Koechner). A regular topic of conversation is whose product kills the most people.

Always under attack, the tobacco industry is the current target of Senator Finistirre (William H. Macy) who wants to put a skull and crossbones on every pack because the written warning hasn’t worked. Finistirre even produces a Latino activist who claims the written warning discriminates against non-English speakers. Naylor is singled out to mount the counterattack by the grand old man of tobacco, the Captain (Robert Duvall). This is the zenith of Nick’s career, and he is eager for the challenge.

Nick hatches the idea of reintroducing cigarette smoking into movies. The Captain endorses the plan, and Nick flies to Hollywood to meet with indulgent super-agent Jeff Megall (Rob Lowe). Noting that only villains and foreigners smoke in the movies anymore, Megall proposes having Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta-Jones smoke in a futuristic adventure about to film.

While it would only $10 million for one of the stars to smoke in the movie, to have both of them light up will cost Nick’s employers $25 million, due to “synergy.” When Nick points out smoking might be dangerous in the oxygen-rich environment of space, Megall says it can easily be explained away by a single line of dialogue discussing a technological breakthrough that negates the problem.

Prior to his testifying before the Senate, Nick is interviewed by reporter Heather Holloway (Katie Holmes). During the course of their blossoming intimate relationship, Heather is able to elicit information that Nick assumes is off the record. The resulting article quotes Nick extensively as he reveals trade secrets.

“Thank You for Smoking” is effective because it never tries to debate whether smoking is harmful. Nick’s job is to deflect the attacks on an addictive, harmful, yet legal product. As Nick notes, you do not win an argument by being right but by proving the opposing viewpoint is wrong. Once a position is discredited, most people assume the opposing position is correct.

Eckhart, known mostly as a supporting actor, is perfectly cast as the likable Nick. He is just barely good-looking and charming enough to avoid smarminess. Excellent supporting work is turned in by the ensemble cast, particularly Duvall, Lowe and J. K. Simmons as Nick’s bombastic boss.

“Thank You for Smoking” casts a cynical eye on American society in general and lobbying in particular. Rated R for language and some sexual content, “Thank You for Smoking” is actually less risqué than a stand-up comedian on cable television. If this content keeps you from seeing “Thank You for Smoking,” you will miss the best comedy release this year.