Dan is a local newspaper advice columnist and a down-on-his-luck single parent. At a local bookstore, Dan discovers the girl of his dreams - only to later find out at a family reunion that the girl is on the arm of his brother!
Dan in Real Life
There"s something about Steve Carrell; casting wise, he"s turning into the next Everyman a la John Cusack; no bad thing; but he also has that "new comedy" (Frat Pack, for want of a better description) pedigree; pretty much a perfect combination. He deserves to be a big star; I don"t think any film he"s in could be a complete wash out, he adds real believability to every role, above and beyond his exceptional comedy skills.
Dan in Real Life is a great feel good film; the story of widower and columnist Dan (Carrell), who can"t even imagine meeting a new partner. Until he hits that wonderful cliche: he meets someone (Juliette Binoche) when he"s least expecting it.
Without spoiling things, this is heartfelt stuff; indeed he pours his heart out as their first conversation gets quickly intense. You can really feel Dan instantly brightening, and his absolute relief, and hope; great acting from Carrell. In another"s hands this would have been missed completely, Carrell does so much more than just set the scene for the comedy to come. As the film then really gets going comedy wise, he finds out that the girl in question is his brother"s much talked about, "she"s the one" girlfriend.
Carrell plays the comedy and tragedy quite brilliantly; the film may be built around him, but the characters in the family are also very well drawn; we can all identify with, and laugh at, the family get-together scenarios here.
Nice cameo from (probable future superstar) Emily Blunt, a good few laugh out loud moments, and a near perfect combination of comedy and sentiment; this is a great buy, and one to watch again.
Dan, widower of four years, father of three (really two and half) disgruntled (kind of his fault - they blame him anyway) daughters, is taking his family to his parents house to meet all the cousins, uncles, aunts, etc. for the annual gathering. By the time he arrives his daughters are not talking to him and his mum orders him out for some fresh air. He leaves the utility room where he is housed, his younger brother has female company this year, and ends up in a book shop. He spots Juliette Binoche. Her pleas for help spurned by the shop keeper, she turns to Dan, thinking he works there too. He doesn"t, but does sell her many random books in a rare charm offensive for the stiff widower. They walk, he tells her about his life, they fall in love and she gets a phone call from her boyfriend and rushes off. Dan manages to get her number though. Back at home and BANG! - its not really a surprise - Binoche walks in, Dan"s brother"s new girlfriend. Soon the whole family love her too, and are shocked by the sometimes uptight, rude and/or flirty Dan. From this premise "Dan in Real Life" develops into the kind of comedy that makes you cringe with social embarrassment (in the vein of "The Office" if it starred Adam Sandler). It is funny - I cringed and laughed a lot. And also sweet (perhaps a little too sweet by the end). I particularly liked the way it resisted painting Dan"s brother as a sleazy, clearly second best option for Binoche. Although not great, it is worth a watch (particularly if you have a read of one particularly nice comment on imdb).
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Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play Advice columnist Dan Burns has his hands full with three daughters that he's not willing to let grow up. The girls still grieve for their mother who died four years ago, and Dan hasn't made any attempts to date. So he's pleasantly surprised when he meets Marie at a bookstore when he goes to his parents' Rhode Island home for the annual family reunion. But his joy is short-lived when he discovers that she is dating his brother, forcing Dan to hide his feelings and chemistry with Marie. Age Rating PG
Comedy starring Steve Carell as advice columnist Dan Burns. In his column, Dan appears to be an expert on relationships, but in real life he struggles to succeed as a brother, son and single parent to three precocious daughters, Jane (Alison Pill), Cara (Brittany Robertson) and Lilly (Marlene Lawston). Things get even more complicated for Dan when he discovers the woman he has recently fallen in love with is already in a relationship with his brother, Mitch (Dane Cook).
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