Dan in Real Life

Reviewed by:
Pete Hammond

Finally a really smart, really funny movie about the ups and downs of life, love, and family. Dan in Real Life is about a confused widower (Steve Carell, who may be the best comic actor working in films today) with three daughters he is now bringing up alone. When he goes to a family reunion, he finds he has an instant attraction to a beautiful divorcée he meets in town (Juliette Binoche), who—unbeknownst to him—coincidentally happens to be the new woman his brother (Dane Cook) is dating. When Cook brings her to the vacation house to meet the entire clan, the fun begins. Cowriter/director Peter Hedges mines plenty of laughs between Carell and Binoche, who must keep their own budding relationship a secret, especially from Cook, who suspects nothing and even sets his lovelorn brother up for a double date with a super-hottie (Emily Blunt). Of course Dan's got a hard-on for the girl he can't have; and it all leads to a series of expertly handled complications that show love isn't easy, especially when you're trying to find it for the second time. Dan, by the way, is part of this surreal family where everyone seems to genuinely like each other. It's almost as big a fantasy as The Lord of the Rings, but there's something kind of comforting watching a non-dysfunctional family who loves spending time together singing bad karaoke songs. Because of this, Dan in Real Life might rightfully earn the title of "feel-great comedy of the year," as it definitely keeps you smiling in a season of "feel-bad" movies. An added plus is the catchy soundtrack, written and sung by Norwegian pop star Sondre Lerche, which serves as a wry musical commentary on the action.

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