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Dan In Real Life (2007) DVD Review
Dan In Real Life (2007) DVD Credits:
Dan In Real Life (2007) Directed by:
Peter Hedges
Dan In Real Life (2007) Written by:
Pierce Gardner
Dan In Real Life (2007) Cast:
Steve Carrell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook, Brittany Robertson
Dan In Real Life (2007) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
Dan In Real Life (2007) DVD Release Date:
10th March 2008
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Dan In Real Life (2007) Synopsis:

In the film, which starts shooing in October, Carell plays a widower with three daughters who writes a parenting advice column but finds all his well-honed formulas tested when he goes on a family vacation and falls in love with the girlfriend of his younger brother.

Dan In Real Life (2007) DVD Review:

There is an invasion at your local Cineplex. Not everyone may be aware of it, but any sophisticated filmgoer (this excludes those who simply “don’t like” black and white films) will have noticed comedies getting raunchier, stupider and no funnier. Heartbreak Kid, Mr. Woodcock, Good Luck Chuck, and any of the numerous Will Ferrell sketch films; these are just a few of the culprits that dumb down the theater experience. At the same time there has been a unique number of adult comedies to be released this year, most notably the Best Picture nominee, Juno, but also including Lars and the Real Girl, Knocked Up and Dan in Real Life. These films are humorous because they remind us of life, and Dan in Real Life is yet another role that allows us to see the natural and likable nature of Steve Carell.

Carell is Dan Burns, a widowed father of three girls who writes a column about relationships which may soon be syndicated. He seems to have his life under control, especially considering he has lost his wife, but the film takes place during a traditional family reunion/vacation, and Dan is having a rough time. Dan is losing control of his daughters. Dan’s eldest, Jane (Allison Pill) is angry with him because he does not trust her drive the car, his middle daughter, Cara (Brittany Robertson), is upset because he will not let her see a boy she has already started dating behind his back. Only Lilly (Marlene Lawston) remains loyal and still close wither father, even noticing when he is upset. Lilly notices more about Dan than any of the rest of the family, so she picks up on the changes in her father after his brother’s guest arrives. Dan’s brother, Mitch (Dane Cook), is dating Marie (Juliette Binoche), a woman Dan happened to meet at the book store when he was escaping from his family for a while.

Instead of simply telling the family the mistake, Dan and Marie keep their innocent encounter a secret from the rest of the family, but this just causes more unnecessary tension and teasing for Dan. He struggles to watch his brother happy with the woman of his dreams, and meanwhile his parents are ashamed of his strange behavior. All the while Lilly just observes her father, and eventually is the only one trying her hardest to make her father see the light. This role is played so naturally by Marlene Lawston that I found myself drawn to this young actress more than most of the immensely talented cast that also includes Dianne Wiest, Emily Blunt and John Mahoney.

Roger Ebert found the only problem with the film to be the soundtrack, done entirely by Sondre Lerche. These songs are about a lighthearted as the film is, but Ebert found the lyrics to be too pointed and the music too convenient. I don’t entirely agree, although I am always unsettled by a single band doing the entire soundtrack when the music is integrated into the story. There is a sequence in the film where they are in a bowling alley and Sondre Lerche is playing. I found this far too convenient and it felt strange, even though I thought the music worked quite well otherwise. This may have been my ability to ignore the lyrics.

The DVD special features are about as casual as the film, and it makes it that much more likeable. There are some outtakes, which are certain to entertain when involving Steve Carell. There is also a featurette about the making of the film, showing the family unit the cast and crew became during the filming. There is also a featurette about the “controversial” soundtrack, deleted scenes and a commentary track by writer/director Peter Hedges.

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Dan In Real Life (2007) DVD review written by: Ryan Izay

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