Dan in Real Life (DVD, 2008)

This fun-spirited romantic comedy is not what I was expecting from Steve Carrell- yet I enjoyed it just the same. We are used to seeing Carrell depict stupidly funny, socially awkward and politically insensitive characters in such films as Anchorman and The 40 Year Old Virgin. And of course he may be known best for his role as the dry-humored, jerk boss from The Office. The character he plays in this film is markedly different. Although some of the same social awkwardness and dry humor still applies, this time his character is also a grieving widow, a responsible father and passionately... in love.

Advice columnist and author Dan Burns has his hands full as a single parent of 3 teenage girls. He was deeply in love with thier mother, who became ill and passed on 4 years ago. Since that time he has devoted all of his attention to his girls and his work and he has not been interested in dating... That is until a chance meeting at a bookstore (while on vacation to visit family) with a woman named Marie (Juliette Binoche). The two have an instant connection- and he knows he is in love. His joy, however, is short-lived once he discovers that Marie is dating his brother... What unfolds is a mix of humor and heartache as Dan attempts to conceal his feelings for Marie and the chemistry they both share to keep peace within his family.

If you enjoy romantic comedies and can appreciate Carrell in a slightly more serious role I think you will LOVE this movie, just as much as I did!

Didn't plan to see this, but I've discovered a long time ago that movies are more enjoyable when you have no idea what it is about-in other words, unexpected surprises. Well, Dan in Real Life is one of those unexpected surprises. It was thoroughly charming and often funny, not as in laugh out loud funny but more of feel-good funny. Sometimes, comedies like this are the ones that get me more than the laugh out loud comedies (ex. Superbad). Its warmth totally won me over, like a puffy winter jacket. You don't want to wear it cause it looks ugly outside but later on, it wins you over cause it's warm inside. The movie is like that.

The man on my left is Steve Carell, who I've despised for being himself, no not really, but he does seem to play same character in all of his movies. `Dan in Real Life' follows a depressed, lonely, widowed father of three girls, Dan Burns (Steve Carell), heading to Rhode Island to see his happy family. His three daughters aren't too happy about the trip, and aren't too happy at his stomping on anything that might resemble a relationship. Upon arriving there, he meets a woman in a bookstore and the two hit it off almost instantly. What Dan doesn't know is that the mystery woman, Marie (Juliette Binoche) is the new girlfriend of Dan's brother Mitch (Dane Cook). Now Dan must be under the same roof as his new crush for a couple of days and hide his obvious adoration for her before the family finds out and the situation gets any worse. Does not help that Marie becomes the hit of the household as she perfectly blends in to the mannerisms of the folks in the family.

What appeals this movie to the average viewers is simply the brutal irony of the situation, and the terrible case of awkwardness that follows, its one of the more original dramas in terms of conflict to be released in some time. I am surprised to say he won me over in this film. His portrayal as an awkward, over-protecting widower was a spot on. I liked how calm and soft spoken he was in this film. I also thought his emotional scenes worked out very fine as well, because Carell made Dan a relatable and caring character even when it seemed he's a jerk in this film.

Aside from that, this is the definite definition of "Feel good" comedy. I liked Dan in Real Life for Real.

Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche and Dane Cook pull off an extraordinary movie with such ease that I could not wait for it to get out on DVD.

The mix of characters in this film along with a star studded cast was just amazing. Life lessons...love and something to tickle your funny bone all wrapped up in this fantastic movie.

Whether you like Steve or Dane is not a question here. The ambiance and outpouring of talent makes you feel good whether you want to or not. This is fun for the whole family. You'll laugh, cry, giggle and feel all warm an fuzzy...but mostly you'll laugh haha

Carell & Cook give an awesome performance as brothers Dan (Carell) and Mitch (Cook) Burns.

After years of grieving for his wife, Widower Dan Burns (Carell) is trying to make the best of life by raising his 3 daughters alone.
Dan takes the family to his Parents home for the annual family reunion and meets this beautiful woman Marie (Binoche) at a local bookstore in Rhode Island.

When he gets back to his Parents home he starts telling his family about the fascinating woman he just met as his brother Mitch(Cook) walks in with his new girlfriend Marie(Binoche) and leaves Dan speechless. He can't tell the family that this is the woman he just met at the bookstore and the secrecy and laughs continue from there.

This is a excellent film and everyone should see many times over.

"Dan in Real Life" is comedic genius, Steve Carell's most recent film coming to DVD. He is one of my favorite actors. I love his works from "Anchorman" to my personal favorite "The 40 Year Old Virgin" and his hilarious TV show, "The Office." However, this film is not on par with the others. That is not to say it's not enjoyable because it certainly was. It definitely generated many laughs out of me, as it will with all who enjoy good comedy. It is a little off-beat, but that is in my mind, one of the best aspects of Steve Carell. Besides Carrel, the two co-stars bring excellent energy and humor. Dane Cook plays his younger sibling, and Juliette Binoche plays his radiant girlfriend. The three have a definite chemistry, and that is even evident from the preview.

If not for any other reason, this movie will entertain you for a few hours, and that is why I recommend it.

There are so few movies that truly bridge the gap between adults and the pre-teen set that when we find one it automatically deserves some praise. Steve Carell is Dan, a soon to be nationally syndicated columnist. During what appears to be an annual family get together on the Rhode Island shore, Dan meets Marie (Juliette Binoche) and despite a recent admonition to his middle daughter about the fiction of love at first sight, promptly falls in love. This, only to find out that Marie is his brother, Mitch's latest girlfriend. The rest, including issues with his daughters (Dan's wife apparently died of cancer several years prior), Mitch and, of course, with Marie, all play out as expected. Carell is, as always, charming, funny and believable. But this is not really a comedy. It is however a nice family movie. Hallelujah!