Dan in Real Life

Steve Carell strikes comedy gold again with his latest about an advice columnist whose own life is in disarray. He is a widower who takes his three girls to the annual family reunion only to meet a woman who strikes his fancy. Unfortunately that woman is also his brother's girlfriend and together they must deal with the quirks and idiosyncrasies of each family member over the course of a long weekend. During that time, they learn more about each other and more importantly, the viewer gets an inside glimpse at a slightly disfunctional, but loving family. The journey has its ups and downs, but at the heart of this story is love and the different forms it takes.

Carell shows quite a bit of range in this movie, and although there are moments when he is comic genius, there are also more subtle times when he lets down his guard and you can really feel his emotional sadness. The scene where he serenades the family in the annual talent show with his brother almost brought a tear to my eye, and just is an indicator that he will be around for a long time doing more than just comedy.

The rest of the cast does fine, I originally thought Juliette Binoche was an odd choice for the girlfriend, what with her French accent, but she kept up with Carell just fine. Dane Cook plays the brother, and surprisingly held his own without putting off the aura that he's just a pretty-boy stand-up comedian.

This film reminded me of Little Miss Sunshine, which I didn't particularly care for (I know, blasphemy). It is a feel-good family comedy with some serious issues, but overall more of a comedy than a drama. Films like this seem to be a rarity when done properly. They are character driven and the focus is not as much on the story.

I would strongly recommend this for an entertaining getaway. 8/10.