Dan In Real Life (PG)

Running Time : 1 hours, 45 minutes
Directed by
Starring

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Synopsis:

Starring: Steve Carell (The Office, Little Miss Sunshine, The 40 Year Old Virgin)
Juliette Binoche (Chocolat, The English Patient)
Dane Cook (Good Luck Chuck, Mr. Brooks, Employee of the Month)
Also featuring Dianne Weist (Law & Order, The Birdcage), John Mahoney (Frasier), and Allison Pill (Pieces of April)


Just as Little Miss Sunshine did in 2006, Dan in Real Life reveals that Steve Carell is an actor who can do more than just comedy. He’s won both accolades and awards as bumbling boss Michael Scott on The Office, but there’s a greater depth to this performance as a single father and man in love. Advice columnist Dan Burns has his hands full with three daughters that he’s not willing to let grow up. The girls still grieve for their mother who died four years ago, and Dan hasn’t made any attempts to date. So he’s pleasantly surprised when he meets Marie at a bookstore when he goes to his parents’ Rhode Island home for the annual family reunion. But his joy is short-lived when he discovers that she is dating his brother, forcing Dan to hide his feelings and chemistry with Marie.

Through his duties as director and co-screenwriter, Peter Hedges deserves much of the credit for creating a film that is sweet without being sappy. Even though he’s working with a far bigger budget than he did for his directorial debut, Pieces of April, he still maintains the feelings of intimacy and honesty that made that film such a critical favorite. What could have been a standard romantic comedy of errors turns into a strong film that goes deeper than many of its peers in the genre. Dan in Real Life also succeeds thanks to its soundtrack from Norwegian indie pop musician Sondre Lerche. The singer’s compositions, both originals and favorites from his career, perfectly suit the film’s tone and moods.

Critics’ Takes on Dan in Real Life

“Dan in Real Life fires on so many circuits that at times it's actually shocking how good it is.” –Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

“A smart, sweet, and thoroughly disarming ensemble comedy that isn't afraid to wear its humanism on its sleeve.” –Glenn Kenny, Premiere

“Deftly interlaces heart and humor in a witty, warm and well-observed comedy about the unexpected and inconvenient blooming of romance at the weekend gathering of an extended family.” –Joe Leydon, Variety

“If what you want is a star-driven sophisticated romantic comedy that is successfully aimed at actual adults, the wait can seem like forever. Until now.” –Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times