Dan en la vida real

Some comedians just can't get out from under their first impression, and audiences refuse to take them seriously. But it's pretty universal that every funny man tries to make a few dramas. The best bet, I feel, is for comedians to make a "transition" movie so you can still laugh but also be impressed by some unexpected tears. In Steve Carell's case, rather than jump right into Seeking a Friend for the End of the World or Hope Springs, he did a couple of great transition movies: Little Miss Sunshine and Dan in Real Life. Quirky family comedies, but with scenes that will make the sentimental cry, they show off the promise of Carell's serious dramatic talents.

As a widower and father to three girls, you immediately start the movie on his side and hoping he can find a little happiness. Steve also has a boisterous family who expresses love in various ways, from smothering to teasing. He meets Juliette Binoche in a bookstore and feels a connection, but just as he's telling his parents about her, his brother walks in with Juliette and introduces her as his girlfriend! What a bummer. Since the brother is played by Dane Cook, it's a safe assumption that Steve is going to remain the likable one we can root for (no offense, buddy). Though the love triangle isn't very suspenseful, it's still compelling.

I would totally recommend this if you're looking for a movie that will please everyone in the family. It's sweet and funny, and Steve looks really handsome - if I were Juliette, there would be no contest! The big scene everyone remembers is quite hilarious. Steve sees his daughter through the window of a coffee shop, about to kiss a boy, and he bangs on the glass louder and louder until she sees him and stops. Every parent would love to do that. But there's a lot more to this movie than that one scene. Great and realistic family dynamics, fast-paced jokes, life lessons, and a huge supporting cast. Dianne Wiest and John Mahoney play the parents, Alison Pill and Britt Robertson as the daughters (they're so young!), Amy Ryan, Jessica Hecht, and Emily Blunt, Matthew Morrison, and Lucas Hedges in smaller roles. I would have loved a little more drama, but as it's a touching family film, I understand the protagonist couldn't break down in tears all the time. For a slightly heavier take on a similar subject, try Clive Owen's The Boys Are Back.

Sometimes you start watching a film that you're not really sure about. And then it surprises you. This was my experience with 'Dan in Real Life'.

I thought this film was wonderful. It is so rare to find a film that mixes so much humour and warmth without being cloying or farcical. But everything about this film clicks both in terms of storytelling and cast. You know you're onto a winner when you have an actor of John Mahoney's quality in a very small role.

The fact is that this could happen in real life and the results would probably be much the same as they are on screen. I know some people take the approach of "I see real life everyday, I go to the cinema to escape it" but this film is very much a celebration of family life and love and those things are just as important as big budget blockbusters with CGI galore.

This is my review of Dan in real life which i've just seen.

The movie was in my eyes very realistic, and I think that is a big plus. I can't recollect that I've seen a movie where I felt that what I saw was real like I did with this movie. The acting was great, Steve Carrol gives the character so much, the awkwardness that he brings to the person in some of the scenes are just great, you feel like it was happening to you, and it probably could, and we are all familiar with the situations which are seen in this movie.

The movie also had some great Hilarious moments. The movie was not made to be all fun, it had a good script, a nice well written story, where you at no time where confused about anything. The plot was straight out, and there was no time you where like oh my god what is happening now. In my opinion was the movie excellent :D:) And I loved the last scene, where he finish it with the best quote, and a really helpful one, which I would try thinking of from time to time in my life, a very good advice. And I think that that the movie had a nice message to send out to everyone, and it did it in a very good and well done way. Last words. I think that especially the connection between Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche was just fantastic. The emotions between them where very realistic and sweet. I rate this movie 9 out of 10, VERY close to a 10

:) (:

Edit: I bumped it up to 10 after rewatching several times. It's a movie I really like coming back to, so I think it deserves a 10.

I saw a special advance screening of this today. I have to let you know, I'm not a huge fan of either Dane Cook or Steve Carell, so I really had no expectations going into this. I ended up enjoying it quite a bit.

Dan in Real Life is the story of a widower with 3 daughters who goes to spend a weekend with his family. While at a bookstore, he meets the woman of his dreams, only to find out that she happens to be his brother's girlfriend.

This movie is pretty well made- the soundtrack, cinematography, and acting are all top-notch, especially Steve Carell. My problem with it was mostly that there seemed to be a lack of character development, mostly with Dane Cook's character. We never really get a close look at the relationship between Dane and Steve's characters, and I felt that it could have helped a bit in showing what Dan's inner conflict about being in love with Dane's girlfriend was like. Other than this though, Dan in Real Life is definitely a solid, sweet film- definitely a nice break from all the horror and action movies we've been getting this year.

I'm not a Steve Carell fan however I like this movie about Dan, an advice columnist, who goes to his parents house for a stay with his kids and ends up falling in love with his brother's girlfriend. Its a story thats been told before, but not like this. There are simply too many little bits that make the film better than it should be. The cast is wonderful, and even if Carell is not my cup of tea, he is quite good as the widower who's suppose to know everything but finds that knowing is different than feeling and that sometimes life surprises you. At times witty and wise in the way that an annoying Hallmark card can be, the film still some how manages to grow on you and be something more than a run of the mill film. Worth a look see