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Home Subscribe About Us Features News Album Reviews Movie Reviews Past Movies Movie Resources Concert Reviews Book Reviews Top 10 Resources Contact Us	Dan in Real Life Stars: Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook, Dianne Weist, John Mahoney and Emily Blunt Director/Writer: Peter Hedges Composer: Sondre Lerche Touchstone/Focus Rating: PG 13 Running Length: 96 minutes For a romantic comedy to work there must be likeable characters with online chemistry and believability. In real life no one is perfect and you want your character's flaws to add to their personality and not distract too much from it. Dan in Real Life pretty much does all of these mentioned. There are warnings everywhere for guys stating "Beware! This is a chick flick and not a Carell comedy!" That is sort of true but if anything it is a guy flick in that it is as much about fatherhood and family as romance. I would think it a perfect father daughter film. What a better way to spend time with your offspring and maybe even spark a few elements of conversation. Dan (Steve Carell) is a single father of three daughters who spends several days at an annual get together with the large extended family. While there he deals with his teenage daughter's angst and hormones as well as his own desires when he finds himself infatuated with his brother's (Dane Cook) new girlfriend (Juliette Binoche). He has to choose the right formula of father, brother and human male. The family aspect makes it a romantic comedy with a deeper side. And one that is brought out by not only the directing but the genuine nature of the entire cast. Though similar to other films in its plot and script, Dan In Real Life is a step above. Carell is not simply, and one dimensionally the Michael Scott most know him as. He adds sincerity in acting that makes you believe his character and relate to his emotions. He adds the Real Life to this film in making Dan a normal guy struggling with normal issues. It's not over played or dumbed down. I was worried about his chemistry with Binoche and how she would fit in a triangle with this generation's Carell and Cook. But she was perfect. Her natural beauty and warmth made her character exactly what the script intended. Dan in Real Life is rated PG-13 for some innuendo. I think this is a stretch and I think it is a safe film for anyone 11 and up. True the romantic elements and serious decisions may bore your younger viewer, but there is little to find offensive. If anything I loved the feel this movie brings of family and quality togetherness. As we enter the Holidays it is a nice reminder that time spent laughing and playing with those we hold dear can fix many an issue and make real life quite dandy. I give this film a solid 4 out of 5 pancakes. It is fun, romantic, and genuinely entertaining. Matt Mungle (10/26/07) Matt is a member of the North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) and co-hosts a weekly radio feature, The Mungles on Movies, with his wife Cindy. For additional reviews, interview clips and great DVD giveaways, visit the website www.mungleshow.com" Review copyright 2007 Mungleshow Productions. Used by Permission. Steve Carell (“Evan Almighty”) has gone from building an ark to trying to raise three daughters in Dan in Real Life. Steve lost his wife four years before and works at home as an advice columnist. Besides cooking, cleaning and driving the girls everywhere, he has to deal with boyfriends. In other words, Steve doesn’t have a life of his own and his car is a rough-shod red station wagon. Enter the family weekend at Mom (Dianne Weist) and Dad’s (John Mahoney) place on the sea. Steve breaks away for a while and goes into a nearby town. There, at a bookstore, he meets a wonderful girl (Juliette Binoche) and it literally is love at first sight. They part, but later, both are stricken to discover they are staying in the same house for the weekend--she is the girlfriend of his brother (Dane Cook.) The obvious thing would be to ‘fess up, but they decide they can handle this, though Dan clearly is pining for Juliette and eventually, his daughters catch on. They challenge Dan on hypocrisy, because they are supposed to tell the truth, while he can’t. Each daughter’s situation comes into focus and Dan makes all the wrong decisions (such as, not letting the 17-year old practice driving even though she has a license.) The eldest is seventeen and headed for college, the 15 year old has a boyfriend and thinks she is in love, and the 10-year old tags behind like a little puppy. This entire family knows no boundaries. If someone has a problem, they all come to help. You want to be alone, forget it, the word isn‘t in their vocabularies. Dan in Real Life means the person who is only human and writing advice columns. The perfect Dan has flaws and eventually will have to face them. In the meantime, a syndicate is interested in his column. Management would come to Dan’s parent’s home for a discussion. Just the icing on the cake for this weekend of love upsets, teen arguments and Dan having to sleep in the extra room (actually the laundry room.) The entire cast does well, especially Steve Carell with a sad face and eyes, who blossoms when he sees Juliette. Binoche doesn’t do comedy often, but she should, and her hearty laugh is infectious. Dane Cook as the brother who goes from one girl to another, plays the character as both child and man. It is Weist and Mahoney who anchor the group, just like Mom and Dad. They know their children and what is right for them even before the kids know this themselves. Peter Hedges script and direction is just right. No excessive dialogue and let actor’s facial expressions do the acting. A family variety show is something the audience can relate to. Whatever isn’t nailed down becomes part of a costume. The only negative comment I have is the soundtrack by newcomer Sondre Lerche. His instrumental music is upbeat and goes with the story, but when he sings, the words “out of tune” come to mind. There is even a scene where the composer is in the film singing. Why? Copyright 2007 Marie Asner