'Dan in Real Life' Wonderfully Honest
AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
Peter Hedges, left, director of the film "Dan in Real Life," shares a laugh with star Steve Carell at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles Wednesday.
RATING:
3 out of 5 Tyler Roses
By ERIN K. KING
TylerPaper.com
(Released: Friday, October 26, 2007; Directed by Peter Hedges; Written by Pierce Gardner and Peter Hedges; Cast: Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook, Dianne Wiest, John Mahoney, Emily Blunt; Rated: PG-13)
Appropriately released in time for the upcoming holiday season, “Dan In Real Life” is a feel-good movie that whispers what life is all about: the small moments.
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The first scene eases into the monotonous life of a man who automatically wakes up without an alarm clock and has replaced love with work by the looks of the papers and books beside him in bed. Dan Burns (Steve Carell, “The Office”) is a newspaper advice columnist who does not take his own advice and is a widower of four years raising three daughters.
Dan tries to ignore that his daughters are growing up as he prepares them for the school day. However, after doing tedious tasks like passing out clean laundry and making lunches, reality is at the front door. His middle daughter’s boyfriend arrives to walk her to they bus stop. He is an eager young man and is appreciative of Dan’s columns. Dan scoffs at young love and slams the door in the young suitor’s face; thus, slamming the door on love. Dan will go on to criticize new love two more times.
Finally, Dan sends the girls off to school and reminds them they are leaving for Thanksgiving holiday that afternoon. Then, he begins studying and responding to readers’ letters.
After a long drive, Dan and his girls pull up to his parents’ (Dianne Wiest of “Edward Scissorhands” and John Mahoney of “Frasier”) Rhode Island beachfront home. They are the second to the last of the houseguests to arrive. In a happy moment, aunts, uncles, cousins, and, of course, grandparents greet them.
The next morning, Dan’s mother persuades him to leave the house for some alone time. Reluctantly, he leaves and visits a bookstore. An angelic woman, Marie (Juliette Binoche, “Chocolat”) mistakes him for an employee. Regardless, Dan helps her find some books. Eleven books, actually, and as store policy states they receive a free muffin for buying that exact amount.
This is fate, perhaps, because they go out onto a dock to share the muffin and more importantly themselves through stories. Dan opens up to her, which he has not done with anyone in quite a while. Unfortunately, Marie’s boyfriend interrupts their time together when he calls wondering when she will be arriving for Thanksgiving. Dan and Marie agree to finish their conversation at a later time.
Despite Dan’s disbelief that love can happen so quickly, he has fallen for Marie instantly.
Dan returns home and tells the family the good news about this new woman. They are all excited for him, especially, Dan’s brother, Mitch (Dane Cook, “Vicious Circle”). Dan confesses to him that Marie has a boyfriend, but Mitch explains that all is fair if she does not have a wedding band yet.
Then, the story really picks up. Mitch’s girlfriend finally arrives. It is Marie, the woman from the bookstore. Awkwardness begins between Dan and Marie, but they agree to hide their secret.
Immediately, the physical compatibility of Cook and Binoche lacks believability that they are soulmates. It is obvious that Carell and Binoche would be more compatible. Although all are fine actors, the twist is given away by their appearance.
Of course, when Dan and Marie suppress their feelings, this only makes the situation worse. Dan becomes jealous of his brother and sinks deeper into seclusion, weirdness, and depression. Sadly, in a house full of people, Dan, literally, stands alone and is often singled out.
Jealousy rears its ugly head for Marie, as well, when she and Mitch double date with Dan and an old high school acquaintance, Ruthie ‘Pig-Faced’ Draper (played by brilliant British actress, Emily Blunt of “The Devil Wears Prada”).
In a hilarious impromptu song with piano accompaniment, Mitch and the family make fun of the Ruthie they remember.
Cook’s comedy background really shines as he improvises and harmonizes.
However, the Ruthie the family knew in high school has changed quite a bit. Not only is she a plastic surgeon, but she is also a recipient of such surgeries.
From the moment Ruthie appears, it becomes extremely obvious that she and Mitch are a physical match. Soon after, Mitch and Ruthie are compatible soulmates because they are personally and mentally on the same level.
Later, one of the highlights of the film is the family talent show.
Cook shines again as he and Carell sing a duet while Carell holds his own by playing the guitar.
Dan has not played the guitar since his wife died four years ago. He gets wrapped up in the song and begins to sing to Marie in front of the entire family.
Marie cannot handle anymore of this forbidden love she feels for Dan. So, she breaks up with Mitch and starts to leave for home back in New York. She does not get far when she gives in and calls Dan. He meets her and they have a date at the bowling alley. They kiss. At that moment, the Burnses walk into the bowling ally where chaos ensues, punches are thrown, embarrassment sets in, and Marie leaves town.
Back at the house, Dan’s life gets worse before it gets better. He interviews to become a syndicated journalist. He realizes he has been ignoring his girls. Everything has fallen apart.
However, this is a Steve Carell movie. After all of the embarrassing moments occur, everything will work out in the end for his character.
Finally, Dan takes his own advice and puts family first. Dan’s girls forgive him, he realizes new love is possible, he becomes syndicated, and with the family’s blessing he wins over Marie.
“Dan In Real Life” often has a slow pace, but the payoff comes in journey of Dan realizing his new life. This movie is a wonderfully honest and heart-warming film that points out that life will have its happy moments. Life will have its tragic moments. Life will definitely have its embarrassing moments. But, whatever the moments, it is life and it is precious.
"Dan in Real Life" is showing at the Times Square Cinemas and Carmike 14 in Tyler, and the Hollywood 14 in Longview.
Erin K. King is a photographer and writer for TylerPaper.com, who writes movie reviews among other responsibilities. She has been a Tylerite for almost 25 years and has a degree in Film and Video Studies from the University of Oklahoma.
This article was last updated on Saturday, October 27, 2007 at 4:31 a.m. C.D.T.
Dan tries to ignore that his daughters are growing up as he prepares them for the school day. However, after doing tedious tasks like passing out clean laundry and making lunches, reality is at the front door. His middle daughter’s boyfriend arrives to walk her to they bus stop. He is an eager young man and is appreciative of Dan’s columns. Dan scoffs at young love and slams the door in the young suitor’s face; thus, slamming the door on love. Dan will go on to criticize new love two more times.
Finally, Dan sends the girls off to school and reminds them they are leaving for Thanksgiving holiday that afternoon. Then, he begins studying and responding to readers’ letters.
After a long drive, Dan and his girls pull up to his parents’ (Dianne Wiest of “Edward Scissorhands” and John Mahoney of “Frasier”) Rhode Island beachfront home. They are the second to the last of the houseguests to arrive. In a happy moment, aunts, uncles, cousins, and, of course, grandparents greet them.
The next morning, Dan’s mother persuades him to leave the house for some alone time. Reluctantly, he leaves and visits a bookstore. An angelic woman, Marie (Juliette Binoche, “Chocolat”) mistakes him for an employee. Regardless, Dan helps her find some books. Eleven books, actually, and as store policy states they receive a free muffin for buying that exact amount.
This is fate, perhaps, because they go out onto a dock to share the muffin and more importantly themselves through stories. Dan opens up to her, which he has not done with anyone in quite a while. Unfortunately, Marie’s boyfriend interrupts their time together when he calls wondering when she will be arriving for Thanksgiving. Dan and Marie agree to finish their conversation at a later time.
Despite Dan’s disbelief that love can happen so quickly, he has fallen for Marie instantly.
Dan returns home and tells the family the good news about this new woman. They are all excited for him, especially, Dan’s brother, Mitch (Dane Cook, “Vicious Circle”). Dan confesses to him that Marie has a boyfriend, but Mitch explains that all is fair if she does not have a wedding band yet.
Then, the story really picks up. Mitch’s girlfriend finally arrives. It is Marie, the woman from the bookstore. Awkwardness begins between Dan and Marie, but they agree to hide their secret.
Immediately, the physical compatibility of Cook and Binoche lacks believability that they are soulmates. It is obvious that Carell and Binoche would be more compatible. Although all are fine actors, the twist is given away by their appearance.
Of course, when Dan and Marie suppress their feelings, this only makes the situation worse. Dan becomes jealous of his brother and sinks deeper into seclusion, weirdness, and depression. Sadly, in a house full of people, Dan, literally, stands alone and is often singled out.
Jealousy rears its ugly head for Marie, as well, when she and Mitch double date with Dan and an old high school acquaintance, Ruthie ‘Pig-Faced’ Draper (played by brilliant British actress, Emily Blunt of “The Devil Wears Prada”).
In a hilarious impromptu song with piano accompaniment, Mitch and the family make fun of the Ruthie they remember.
Cook’s comedy background really shines as he improvises and harmonizes.
However, the Ruthie the family knew in high school has changed quite a bit. Not only is she a plastic surgeon, but she is also a recipient of such surgeries.
From the moment Ruthie appears, it becomes extremely obvious that she and Mitch are a physical match. Soon after, Mitch and Ruthie are compatible soulmates because they are personally and mentally on the same level.
Later, one of the highlights of the film is the family talent show.
Cook shines again as he and Carell sing a duet while Carell holds his own by playing the guitar.
Dan has not played the guitar since his wife died four years ago. He gets wrapped up in the song and begins to sing to Marie in front of the entire family.
Marie cannot handle anymore of this forbidden love she feels for Dan. So, she breaks up with Mitch and starts to leave for home back in New York. She does not get far when she gives in and calls Dan. He meets her and they have a date at the bowling alley. They kiss. At that moment, the Burnses walk into the bowling ally where chaos ensues, punches are thrown, embarrassment sets in, and Marie leaves town.
Back at the house, Dan’s life gets worse before it gets better. He interviews to become a syndicated journalist. He realizes he has been ignoring his girls. Everything has fallen apart.
However, this is a Steve Carell movie. After all of the embarrassing moments occur, everything will work out in the end for his character.
Finally, Dan takes his own advice and puts family first. Dan’s girls forgive him, he realizes new love is possible, he becomes syndicated, and with the family’s blessing he wins over Marie.
“Dan In Real Life” often has a slow pace, but the payoff comes in journey of Dan realizing his new life. This movie is a wonderfully honest and heart-warming film that points out that life will have its happy moments. Life will have its tragic moments. Life will definitely have its embarrassing moments. But, whatever the moments, it is life and it is precious.
"Dan in Real Life" is showing at the Times Square Cinemas and Carmike 14 in Tyler, and the Hollywood 14 in Longview.
Erin K. King is a photographer and writer for TylerPaper.com, who writes movie reviews among other responsibilities. She has been a Tylerite for almost 25 years and has a degree in Film and Video Studies from the University of Oklahoma.
This article was last updated on Saturday, October 27, 2007 at 4:31 a.m. C.D.T.
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