Another perfect performance by America’s new favorite funny man, Steve Carell (“Evan Almighty”), and a warm sense of family from the rest of the cast makes “Dan in Real Life” the feel-good movie of the fall. Written and directed by second-time filmmaker Peter Hedges (“Pieces of April”), this film strikes all the right chords, being both funny and touching. The movie tackles the themes of wanting something you can’t have, the loss of a loved one, the burdens of being a single-parent, and the intrusive concerns of an extended family without ever getting preachy.
Steve Carell is Dan, a newspaper columnist who writes advice for families in his articles while struggling to raise three girls on his own. The oldest is the most responsible. The middle child is an argumentative, love-struck teenager, while the youngest is adorable and eager for her father’s attention.
He packs the kids up for a trip to visit his extended family at their camp. While visiting, he runs into a beautiful stranger he instantly connects with. The problem, Dan later finds out, is that Marie (Juliette Binoche, “Chocolat”) is already in a relationship with someone he knows. Seeing her repeatedly during his vacation drives him crazy with longing, but does she feel the same way? And how will his family react to this situation?
You can tell from the way Dan relates to his family that they are a warm and loving brood. The games they play together are fun to watch, whether it’s competitive crossword puzzles or a talent show. His parents, Nana (Dianne Wiest, “I am Sam”) and Poppy (John Mahoney, TV’s “Frasier”) are well cast and easy-going in their roles, giving Dan his space while also being worried about him. Dane Cook (“Good Luck Chuck”) plays his younger brother, Mitch, who admires his older brother for his morality and creativity while being nothing like him. The dialogue feels very real and conversational, making you believe these people are truly family. The comedy is situational, but it never feels forced, and Carell slips in some good one-liners.
Binoche and Carell have a nice chemistry, whether stealing jealous glances at each other or by sharing a flirtatious moment.
“Dan in Real Life” is what “The Family Stone” wished it could have been - a heartwarming tale about family and how messy love can be. This is a wonderful romantic comedy the whole family can enjoy, appealing to each member’s unique point of view. Many of the issues Dan has with his daughters are later resolved in creative and believable ways, and seeing the movie with your parents or teenage children may be a way of laughing at a problem you had just been fighting about.
While you may shed a few healthy tears at Dan’s delicate predicament and his tragic past, you’ll end up leaving the theatre with a smile on your face.
How many movies can give you that?
Rated PG-13 for some innuendo.
