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List Price: $19.99 | | Label: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone
Salesrank: 1894
Released: March 11, 2008 |
| Our Price: $9.82 |
| Used Price: $2.30 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
n/a
Description of Dan in Real Life:
Steve Carell’s best film performance to date can be found in the fitfully engaging Dan In Real Life, where his long-suffering persona suits a character who lets his long-dormant hopes rise for a moment, only to be shot down again. Carell plays Dan Burns, a newspaper columnist who writes about family issues and relationships. As a widower with three growing girls to raise, however, the difference between Dan’s printed wisdom and his struggles with fatherhood and loneliness is often vast. He’s put to a severe test when he packs up the kids for a cabin holiday with his parents and siblings, then falls for the exotic, if elusive, Marie (Juliette Binoche) during a solo excursion to a bookstore. Stirred by a woman for the first time since his late wife, Dan is shocked to find that Marie is actually dating his brother Mitch (Dane Cook), and that she’ll be spending the vacation with him in the midst of his family. From that point, the script, co-written by director Peter Hedges (Pieces of April), pretty much becomes a parade of difficult circumstances under which both Dan and Marie have to keep their attraction to one another secret. Certain scenes work better than others, but there is an overall monotony to the movie that isn’t helped by a lack of onscreen chemistry between Binoche and Carell. Both actors are fine on their own terms, but whatever is supposed to be clicking between Marie and Dan isn’t compelling enough to make one truly care that they get together somehow. Still, this is a film with plenty of moments to like, especially when Carell gets to broaden his previous range of emotions in a movie. --Tom Keogh
Dan in Real Life Reviews:
Dan in Real Life 
2009-11-05 - This was a very good movie; showing the difficulty one spouse has raising three
girls after his wife dies. It chronicals the problems that come up with dating, dealing with boyfriends, etc. We enjoyed it.
Real Life Comedy 
2009-10-30 - A great movie that looks at love, and recovery through the eyes of a widower with three daughters. A wonderful drama/comedy that looks at family in a wonderful way.
DULL 
2009-10-26 - This is without a doubt the worst movie steve carell has ever done. Save your money.
A sweet romantic comedy that will lift spirits
2009-10-23 - Dan In Real Life (directed by Peter Hedges) is a family reunion that you can attend in your own living room. And you won't have to deal with kissing aunts, loud children and bragging cousins.
Dan Burns (Steve Carell) is a middle-aged widower with three daughters (Alison Phil, Brittany Robertson and Marlene Lawston). Even though he is a relationship columnist and trained in helping others, he can't help himself find love. While attending a family reunion at his parent's house in Rhode Island, he meets Marie (Juliette Binoche) at a book shop. The two click instantly but part ways, Dan promising to call her. When he arrives back at the house he discovers that Marie is his younger brother Mitch's (Dane Cook) girlfriend. Chaos ensues as Dan struggles to hold back his feelings for her.
The family is perfectly cast. Though overbearing at times, I can sense that they truly care about his well being. They do crosswords together. They exercise, hold a talent show, all while having fun. But they are not perfect. Their remarks about Dan and his lack of a love life are at times crass and unsupportive. The characters are also flawed. Dan's younger brother has a murky past that involves a parade of women. I'm glad that the writers make them loving but most importantly human, imperfect.
Carell and Binoche have tremendous chemistry with one another. They are struggling with a situation they've been shoved into. Their love jumps out of the screen and they compel people to root for them.
I also enjoy the humor. Carrell is a brilliant humorist. He rises to acting superiority when he takes on complicated movies (I.e. Little Miss Sunshine) as opposed to the family movies he has starred in. Cook also surprises.
Some parts of the movie like the shower scene are unrealistic. I cannot picture that happening in real life. I feel that the director threw it into the movie for laughs.
The major problem I had was with the daughters; mainly the two eldest. I understand that the middle child is a teenager and has plenty of hormones pumping through her body. I can excuse some of her behavior though not all of it. But the oldest daughter is self-righteous and harsh to Dan. She wants to travel the world. She wants to be perceived as mature. But the way she acts towards her own father proves that she is not capable of doing either. At the beginning she appears to be kind and friendly. However, she loses me when she tells Dan that he doesn't stand a chance with Marie.
Despite some of its character and writing flaws, Dan In Real Life is a sweet light-hearted romantic comedy that proves love at first sight is possible.
I love this movie!
2009-10-02 - this movie is so good I had to buy it. It was like "Real life"
