Posted by
Emmett of the Unblinking Eye on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 2:17:01 PM
What do you expect when a film teams Steve Carell ("The Office" and "The 40 Year Old Virgin") with Dane Cook (a stand-up comic credited with the excremental "Employee of the Month" and "Good Luck Chuck"? Whatever it is, it's not what you get in "Dan in Real Life" -- and surprisingly, that's a good thing.
"Dan" is not an off-color, R rated laugh fest. What it is is a touching romantic comedy about love and loss, backed by an outstanding cast. Carell plays a widower with three daughters whose advice column -- Dan in Real Life -- is about to go into syndication. Meanwhile, he and his daughters are required attendees at the season-ending family gathering at the home of his parents {the always-wonderful John Mahoney and Diane Wiest) in Nantucket. Dan goes willingly; his daughters less so. Sent on an errand to buy the newspaper at a local book store, Carell meets Marie (Juliette Binoche) and winds up spending much of the morning talking with her. At the end of their meeting she indicates that she is "involved". What Dan doesn't know is that it's with his brother, Mitch (Cook).
Now, none of this is particularly inspired. You know from the outset what will happen to Mitch, Marie and Dan at the end, and your not surprised when it happens. But you are pleased. What brings "Dan in Real Life" out of the ordinary is how well the writer and director depict the reunion of a biologically-close but socially and emotionally distant family, and the remarkable interaction of the cast. "Dan" is not going to win any Oscars, but it is going to win a lot of hearts.