“Dan In Real Life” (Touchstone Pictures)
Dan Is the Man
“Dan In Real Life” is a funny, warm, totally enjoyable movie. Steve Carell cements his status as a true leading man with his role as widower, with three adorable but complex daughters, trying to muddle through his crazy life. Juliette Binoche and a super supporting cast add some flavor of their own to the film but it is Carell’s show all the way.
Dan Burns (Carell) is a newspaper columnist, well actually he gives advise to people on how to live their lives. The irony is that his own life is not moving along too smoothly. His wife has been dead for four years and his three daughters seem to have adjusted to having Dad as the only parent. Still Jane (Alison Pill) needs some space, Cara (Brittany Robertson) is boy crazy, and Lily (Marlene Lawston) needs some one on one attention.
Oh yes, and Dan needs to find someone to date. His family is constantly stressing that to him. On a long weekend at his parent’s vacation retreat he meets a woman at the local bookstore. Her name is Marie (Binoche) and Dan is instantly taken with her. They spend a while talking and then she has to leave. Later she shows up at the family compound with Dan’s younger brother Mitch (Dane Cook).
Dan is in a real quandary. He is immensely attracted to Marie but would never do anything to hurt his brother. Once again he needs someone to give him advice. He ends up letting his family fix him up with a neighborhood friend named Ruth (Emily Blunt). His attention to Ruth makes Marie jealous and leads to the climax of the film.
There is a lot of chemistry in this movie between Carell and Binoche’s characters and that is what gives the movie its kick. Carell can play vulnerable like no one else, and Binoche has a laugh as earthy and enjoyable as Julia Roberts’.
The three young actresses who play Carell’s daughters are all likeable with Robertson being particularly impressive. Dane Cook is actually fun to watch in this movie and that is really a feat. Throw in John Mahoney and Dianne Wiest as Dan’s parents and you have someone for everyone to like and identify with.
The film is rated PG-13 for mild profanity and sexual situations.
In addition to an involving plot this movie has some lines and situations that are laugh out loud funny. Then just as quickly you encounter something in the story that goes straight to the heart. “Dan In Real Life” has that perfect blend of the funny and the warm.
I scored “Dan In Real Life” an advised 7 out of 10.
