Touchtone Pictures'

Dan in Real Life

Starring: Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook, John Mahoney, Emily Blunt

Directed by: Peter Hedges

RS: 3.5of 4 Stars Average User Rating: 3of 4 Stars

2007 Buena Vista Comedy

Seeing the name of Iowa writer Peter Hedges on a movie (What's Eating Gilbert Grape, About a Boy, Pieces of April) means you're in for a unique blend of humor and heartbreak, with the bruising and healing powers of family right at the core. April in 2003 repped an auspicious directing debut for Hedges, which he now follows with the blissfully funny and touching Dan in Real Life, the real thing in romantic comedy in that its characters manage to be romantic, hilarious and recognizably human at the same time. Think that's easy? Try seeing yourself in the misogynist muck of The Heartbreak Kid. As Dan Burns, a widower with three daughters (Alison Pill, Brittany Robertson and Marlene Lawston), Steve Carell performs comic wonders, finding the sting in the wryest of quips. Dan writes a family-advice column filled with the common sense he lacks himself. In the four years since his wife died, Dan's been laying down rigid rules for his girls and dragging his ass about relationships. Then, out of the blue, in a bookstore, he meets a woman (the bracingly lovely Juliette Binoche) who makes him laugh and, better yet, makes him want to make her laugh. Hedges, who co-wrote with Pierce Gardner, directs with unforced exuberance. Outside the safety zone of farce provided by The 40-Year-Old Virgin and The Office, Carell shows a whole new side to his talents. Even in the brief bookstore encounter, he makes you feel Dan's longing. You also feel his horror when Dan arrives at the Rhode Island home of his parents (John Mahoney and Dianne Wiest) to find his brother Mitch (Dane Cook) ready to introduce his new love. Right, she's Marie, from the bookstore. OK, the plot tickles sitcom, but the film is a winner because Carell and Binoche follow Hedges' lead and keep it real. Sharing their company really is a pleasure.

>>Watch every episode of our weekly Peter Travers video podcast by subscribing via iTunes here (when prompted, click “Launch application”). Every Friday, a new episode featuring clips from the week's newest movies will be delivered to your iTunes. [If you don’t have iTunes, download it here.]

>>Watch our very own Peter Travers interview Steve Carell on ABCNews.com.

PETER TRAVERS

(Posted: Oct 18, 2007)

Your Turn

Give us your review of
Dan in Real Life

Review 1 of 3

1of 4 Stars

If i could give this a negative five I would. The person above
me had it absolutely right. It's a rip off of "The Family Stone"
and i already found that hard to swallow but "Dan in Real Life"
was so bad I couldn't tell if it was a joke for a while and left
the cinema in a state of shock.
The adopted asian child, the family performance nights, the
ridiculous guitar scene, the "I THOUGHT I DIED BECAUSE AN
ANGEL WALKED IN TO THE ROOM" (Are you joking?), the "YOU
SANG FOR ME" were all too horrible to even begin explaining.
I felt violated and cannot express through mere words, my
hatred for this film.

"I THOUGHT I DIED BECAUSE AN ANGEL HAD WALKED IN TO
THE ROOM"

I honestly thought that quote was a joke because a comment
is made about it, BUT THE LINE IS BROUGHT UP AGAIN as a
seriously sweet line.

Mar 6, 2008 13:37:33

Review 2 of 3

3of 4 Stars

Steve Carell again shows off his range that was hinted upon in "Little Miss Sunshine". He plays Dan Burns, a widower raising three girls. Dan writes an advice column that shares the title of the film "Dan in Real Life". He takes the girls on a roadtrip for a family gathering. The arrive at the Rhode Island beach house of his parents. Dan takes a trip to a local book store and has a chance in counter with Marie(Juliette Binoche). The sparks fly and even though Marie says she is involved they exchange numbers. He returns to his parents house on cloud nine. Dan feels for the first time since his wife's death the possibility of loving someone. He returns to his parents house telling the family he met somebody on his trip into town. He is railroaded when his brother Mitch(Dane Cook) brings home is girlfriend. Who happens to be, yes Marie from the bookstore. What unravels next is the conflict of emotions between Dan and Marie. The struggle of there attraction and there circumstance. I found this film charming and very funny. The performances are all solid but for me Carell really shines as you feel the emotional rollercoaster Dan is on. I was entertained and felt pretty good after watching Dan in Real Life.

Nov 13, 2007 23:59:17

Review 3 of 3

2of 4 Stars

I am a little stunned that the always-reliable Peter Travers has given this tripe a 3 and 1/2 star rating. This Family Stone rip-off (and that is not a complement) represents everything that is wrong with today's cinema. Too often than not, studios are sticking with a tired formula (here, lonely widower gets together with his family over the holidays and finds "true love"), plugging in a few familiar faces (here, the likable Steve Carroll and Julliet Binoche)and expect box office gold. I do believe the actors are trying here, but the script is so unoriginal and so unbelievable, that I was often left snickering and shaking my head with each "plot twist". First, Carroll meets Binoche in a chance encounter at a book store, and bares his soul to her over the next 30 minutes. Of course, they instantly connect, but are separated by circumstance. Gagging yet? Guess What? Binoche is dating Carroll's brother, the oddly cast Dane Cook. Binoche seems 15 years older than Cook and their relationship is entirely unbelievable. That, along with the lack of chemestry and believabiity in the "instant love" between Carroll and Binoche, dooms the rest of the film. I laughed out loud at this oddly perfect family (right down to the adopted chinese neice). The family spends the entire week playing games, charades, putting on talents shows for each other, etc. while poor Dan must deal with his unrequieted love for Binoche. OK, you can gag now. This is barely above TV sitcom hell, and the whole story unfolds predictably. I don't know what I am sadder about- - the 10 bucks and 2 hours I lost on this crap or the fact the PT loves it! Oh, Pete, say it isn't so. Well, maybe he will come to his senses with the DVD review...

Nov 11, 2007 17:25:05

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