Aaron Eckhart Plays a Tobacco Spokesman Who Can’t Stop Lying — Even to His Son

Thank You for Smoking is a sharp, satirical comedy about a man whose job is to lie for a living — and whose son is watching him do it. Aaron Eckhart plays Nick Naylor, the chief spokesman for Big Tobacco, and he sells cigarettes with the moral conviction of a used-car salesman. The film, directed by Jason Reitman from his own script, is a pitch-perfect send-up of corporate spin, political hypocrisy, and the peculiar bond between a father and his child.

Trailer, via SearchlightPictures.

Nick Naylor’s Filter

Naylor is a master of “filtering the truth,” a phrase that doubles as the film’s tagline. He works for the Academy of Tobacco Studies, a fake think tank that manufactures research claiming cigarettes aren’t dangerous. He meets weekly with his fellow lobbyists, the “Merchants of Death,” a trio that includes an alcohol lobbyist and a firearms lobbyist. They joke about their work, but the film treats their cynicism as genuine — they believe they’re doing good by defending freedom.

The setup is simple. When a senator pushes a bill to put poison warnings on cigarette packages, Naylor is summoned to testify before a Senate committee. That’s when things fall apart. He’s kidnapped, dosed with nicotine patches, and wakes up in a hospital. His nicotine tolerance saves him, but leaves him permanently allergic to smoking. The irony is cruel, and the film earns it.

The Cast

The best scenes belong to Eckhart, who plays Naylor as a man who genuinely believes he’s helping America. He’s charming, funny, and utterly amoral. Maria Bello, as the alcohol lobbyist Polly Bailey, and David Koechner, as the firearms lobbyist Bobby Jay Bliss, round out the trio with perfect comic timing. Sam Elliott plays Lorne Lutch, the former Marlboro Man turned anti-smoking crusader, and Rob Lowe plays the slick Hollywood agent Jeff Megall.

The film’s central tension is between Naylor’s professional pride and his love for his son, Joey, played by Cameron Bright. Naylor wants to be a role model, but his job teaches him to manipulate, deceive, and win at any cost. The movie asks a simple question: can a man who lies for a living raise a son who tells the truth? The answer isn’t pretty, but it’s honest.

What the Film Gets Right

Thank You for Smoking is a smart, funny film that never loses sight of its target. It’s a satire that respects its audience, and it trusts them to see the difference between a joke and a warning.

The film was released on DVD in the US on October 3, 2006, and in the UK on January 8, 2007. As of 2007, it had grossed over $39 million worldwide.

Thank You for Smoking earns its satirical edge through sharp writing and a lead performance that anchors the whole enterprise. It’s a film about selling cigarettes that never once feels like it’s selling out.

Aaron Eckhart · Jason Reitman · movie review · satire · Thank You for Smoking