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Theatrical Review: It has been a while since I've seen an actor single-handedly elevate merely fair material with a transcendental performance.
Steve Carell is the Dan of Real Life, and his touching turn as an unassuming newspaper columnist and father of three girls exists on a level above the film's perfectly acceptable cast -- no small feat considering that Dianne Wiest, John Mahoney, and Juliette Binoche contribute to the ensemble.
So far, the comedian has displayed a knack for sharp sarcasm (Evan Almighty) and incredible obliviousness (NBC's The Office). He adds earnestness, warmth, and pathos to his repertoire as he carries this contrived yet charming romantic comedy regarding multiple generations of parents and their children.
Director Peter Hedges' goal is to establish a complicated love triangle, though it requires a rather large leap of faith on our part. While assisting his siblings in winterizing their parents' cabin, Dan meets beautiful stranger Marie (Binoche) in a neighborhood bookstore. They playfully flirt, agree to share a muffin, and spend the afternoon conversing. Yet she fails to mention either why she is in the area or that she has a boyfriend... who happens to be Dan's brother, Mitch (Dane Cook).
Such developments normally leave "coincidence" in the rear view as we speed on toward "impossible," but Dan rebounds nicely. Hedges demonstrated in his small but sweet debut Pieces of April that he can maneuver through dysfunctional family humor. He has a tendency in Dan to repeat his jokes -- the same cop pulls Dan over repeatedly, and the dryer in his makeshift bedroom clunks along like a bum punch line hitting the pavement.
But the comforting glow of a gathered family warms Dan from within, and the coincidences melt away as Wiest, Mahoney, Binoche, and co-star Emily Blunt bring needed flavor. Sure, Hedges might be making a basic peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich of a feature, but he cuts the crusts off the white bread because he knows that's how we like it.
Consensus: The fine performances elevate Dan in Real Life beyond its sentimental plot.
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BY JACOB ZIEGLER
Sometimes movies just don’t sound right. When I heard that Peter Hedges’ long awaited (for me anyway) follow up to 2003’s underrated and overlooked “Pieces of April” was going to star Steve Carell as Dan, who falls in love with Juliette Binoche, who’s actually dating Dan’s brother Mitch, played by Dane Cook, it sounded a little off to me. Carell, Binoche, and Cook don’t exactly seem like the most likely trio to lead a smart romantic comedy, but that’s exactly what they did. And boy did they do a fantastic job.
Carell plays Dan Burns, a widowed father of three who writes an advice column titled (obviously) “Dan in Real Life.” The first ironic twist of the movie is that the man who dispenses advice to the general populous is having trouble with his own daughters, mostly the older two. Jane (Alison Pill, whom Hedges also used in “April”) wants to start driving, which makes Dan apprehensive, and Cara (Brittany Robertson) wants to start dating, which makes Dan even more apprehensive. Lilly (Marlene Lawston) is the youngest.
Dan is taking his daughters up to the family cabin for the yearly get together with Dan’s parents (expertly played by John Mahoney and Oscar-winner Dianne Wiest) and siblings. After dropping his daughters off, Dan takes a little side trip to the local bookstore and has a chance encounter with a beautiful woman named Marie (another Oscar-winner in Juliette Binoche). This scene is the glue that holds the entire movie together, because Carell and Binoche need to make Dan and Marie seem honest, and this scene accomplishes that, and makes us want to see them end up together.
There’s just one snag, however. Dan’s brother Mitch is bringing his new girlfriend to meet the family. Mitch seems to have been a bit of a playboy, jumping around from girl to girl, but he really seems to like this one. We can all understand why – it’s Marie. This is a bit of a forced premise, but Carell and company are able to make it work. The rest of the film places these characters in situations both realistic and a bit outlandish, but the success of the film is that the characters at least make it feel plausible.
Carell is known chiefly for his comedic roles in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and TV’s “The Office,” and here Hedges lets him spread his wings a little bit. The screenplay still provides plenty of hilarious moments for who I think is currently unmatched in terms of comedic skill, but Dan goes even deeper than Andy (“40”) or Michael Scott (“Office”) have dared to go. In a lesser actor’s hands this part would have collapsed under the weight of the situations he encountered. Carell’s work is truly astonishing, and it’s a shame that awards shows often don’t give credit to comedic actors, because this is a wonderful performance.
“Dan in Real Life” is a movie that is constantly and consistently likeable. Hedges packed the screenplay with both plenty laugh out loud moments and scenes of genuine emotion. Carell and Binoche make a believable pair, and the supporting cast does what they’re supposed to do – accentuate the leads and not distract attention. Dane Cook was particularly impressive, mostly because I expected the least out of him (I haven’t been his biggest fan), and he fits in with the rest of the cast and is never distracting.
Recent trailers for the Farrelly Brothers’ atrocity known as “The Heartbreak Kid” have touted it as “finally a comedy for adults.” Adults take my advice and skip that one and see the much richer, much more rewarding “Dan in Real Life” instead.
The 411: Steve Carell gives a terrific performance as the title character in “Dan in Real Life,” a movie that I really hope catches on. Carell is unmatched in terms of his comedic timing and sheer likeability. On paper Juliette Binoche may not seem like his ideal match, but they quickly become one of the most endearing duos of the year. I always thought that Hedges never got enough credit for “Pieces of April,” and hopefully now people will recognize what a great writer he is. I can’t wait to see this movie again. |  |
| Final Score: 9.0 [ Amazing ] |
album tracklists:
| 1. | Family Theme Waltz [0:49] |
| 2. | To Be Surprised [4:20] |
| 3. | I'll Be OK [3:39] |
| 4. | Dan and Marie Picking Hum [0:54] |
| 5. | My Hands Are Shaking [3:00] |
"September" was originally done by "Earth
Sondre Lerche and The Faces Down
"Dan and Marie Finale Theme" by Sondre Lerche or "Modern Nature" by Sondre Lerche and Regina Spektor.
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