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Printer-Friendly ModeLatest Carell comedy doesn't match the hype
October 29, 2007 —
Here is a movie that looked to have potential, but by its failure to invoke any emotion or care, loses much of it, but for all that, Dan in Real Life has its moments and isn't a total waste.
The very funny Steve Carell stars as Dan, columnist and father of three whose wife has past away four years prior. Carell has a certain everyday charm about him that must make him tempting for a great variety of roles. Here, he appears to do everything he is called to do, and he does it well.
The gist of the plot is that Dan's family has an annual meeting in Rhode Island, where his parents have a lakeside cabin. After the opening events, Dan's teenage daughters are miffed with him due to his inability to accept them growing up (although his actions aren't totally unjustified).
After his mom sees the tension, she sends him off to town for some time to unwind by himself. There, at a bookstore, he meets Marie (Juliette Binoche), and they hit it off. They have a long talk and it's clear that this is the first time since his wife's passing that Dan feels a connection with a woman. Unfortunately, she cuts things short, citing a new relationship, does give Dan her number.
Dan goes back home, and surprise! Marie's new relationship she mentioned is with his brother, Mitch (Dane Cook), and she will be staying with the family. Dan is crushed. This period of the film contains its best moments, as Dan takes his youngest daughter and two other children out to see the sights, all the while trying to deal with this upheaval. Essentially, the best parts are when Dan is alone.
Here's a question. Why is Dane Cook in this movie? His standup persona doesn't translate well to film, and not only that, he isn't even really given a comedic role here. He's just a guy. Why would a comedian be cast as an average Joe instead of an actor? Ah, that's right. Name value.
It seemed to me that Dan in Real Life, while marketing itself as a pseudo-indie film in the vein of Little Miss Sunshine, is really more about borrowing plot devices and trying to nab financial success.
How many movies have there been where the protagonist is about to get a big break or promotion, then has a life changing experience, which ruins his promotion, but because it's a life changing experience it doesn't matter, and the hero goes on to a better life? It's almost like an unoriginal, inferior version of What About Bob?.
Dan in Real Life also seemed to try to utilize Carell's role on The Office as an excuse to create some awkwardly funny situations. Instead, they come off as only awkward and painful, like a family fight in someone else's home that you can't escape from.
I may be painting an uglier picture of this movie than it really is. There were moments that I laughed and enjoyed myself, but for the most part I was apathetic to the onscreen happenings. I didn't care about the characters or the plot, aside from a few isolated moments. These moments prevent the movie from being worthless, but the filler stops it from being valuable.