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Capone Reviews DAN IN REAL LIFE
Hey all. Capone in Chicago here.
Apparently Steve Carell enjoyed the accolades he received for taking on the more serious role of a suicidal gay professor in LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE so much that he's decided to pepper his purely comedic roles in films like EVAN ALMIGHTY with more character-driven pieces such as this week's DAN IN REAL LIFE, in which he plays a widowed father of three girls, who for the first time since his wife's death four years ago meets a woman who is just about perfect for him. Well, I've seen Carell's latest and I'm here to confirm that DAN IN REAL LIFE is not this year's LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, but that doesn't mean it's a complete failure either.
It does seem odd that director/co-writer Peter Hedges (PIECES OF APRIL) would cast Carell and Dane Cook as brothers in a film that doesn't really utilize the type of comedy both are known for. That being said, I don't find Cook that funny but I do find him an interesting actor to watch, especially in his work in MR. BROOKS from earlier this year. Carell plays Dan, a successful newspaper advice columnist who packs up his girls for an annual extended weekend trip to his parent's (Dianne Wiest and John Mahoney) cabin in the woods. The entire clan of Dan's brothers, sisters, their kids and significant others shows up for the event, and the setting is right for characters to have countless heart-to-heart discussions about love, careers, death and the meaning of it all. Dan's heart is still shy after his wife's death, but while browsing at a local bookstore, he meets Marie (Juliette Binoche) and they end up talking for hours. It took me about three second to figure out that Dan's brother Mitch's yet-to-arrive new girlfriend is going to turn out to be Marie.
Dan and Marie spend much of the film dancing around the issue that they are attracted to each other but can do nothing since neither wants to hurt Mitch. But this simply makes Dan even more depressed and bitter, and creates awkwardness at every turn. Dan can't watch whenever Marie and Mitch get affectionate with each other, and Marie finds herself getting jealous when she and Mitch double-date with Dan and a blind date with an old high school acquaintance (Emily Blunt, in a brief but sexy turn). Blessedly, DAN IN REAL LIFE avoids most instances of wackiness and physical humor and opts instead to try to get to know its characters more than most comedies do. The writing here isn't particularly sharp or inspired but it provides a few choice laughs mixed in with its messages about getting on with life after a death and missed opportunities. The strong cast certainly elevates the material far beyond what's on the page without seeming like everyone is elbowing each other for punchlines and more screen time. By no definition of the word did I love this film, but it's an easy one to like in a platonic, non-committal way.
Capone
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FIRST..@@@!@ AGAIN!! YAYYY!
CANDDDY CORRRN!!! -
What the fuck would I wanna watch that for??
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...damn fingers!!
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...you're a douchenozzle. There, I said it.
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you just pwned the movies unexpected plot twist!!
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Not only do you get one of those stupid movies about a functionally dysfunctional family gathering but also a stupid romantic comedy about love at first sight. Count me out.
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such intelligent talkback. Carell's an amazing talent that I will not pass up the chance to see in theaters.
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than Evan Almighty...
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Saw this at a preview screening with a date, and we both liked it. Steve Carell does a nice bit of acting, and Dane Cook, who I hate more than anything, was actually semi-charming in this. Like Capone says, not the best thing in the world, (even as far as romantic comedies go) but it's good for a date.
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Puuuuuuuuuuut it on my tab.
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Go see 'Lars and the Real Girl' instead. Force yourself to well up a bit at the end (it's not that hard to do) and I guarantee you're getting some ass.
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for once i'd like to see a real life situation where there was, maybe, an ex-wife who was like a real ex-wife. maybe bitter and bitchy or even apathetic or whatever.
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I'm disappointed... in YOU, Capone! Wow, I always kind of respected you as a reviewer. Even when we didn't see eye to eye, I at least thought you had a good solid sense of what works. Now you give us a review that shows me you have no ability to appreciate the subtleties and natural nuances that are so beautifully layered into this movie. Nope, I'm not a plant but I am in the industry. I think Steve Carell gives the best performance of his career. I hate the stupid "Jim Carrey wanna-be" stuff that he has spent way too much time doing in bad films starring ex-SNL comics. Here he gets another chance to show us he is an actor in a film that resonates with reality. Seriously, go back and take another look without your pre-convieved notions of what a Steve Carell movie is supposed to be. This is a seriously good film.
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Damn you Michael Bay!
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Am I missing something? Was he held back 21 grades?
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...Carell is romantically paired with a hot Devil-Wears-Prada babe twenty years his junior. Way to go, Steve!
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...and fantastic performance by Carell. Few people (Tom Hanks in his romcom days only one that comes to mind) could pull off this roll with the mixture of comedy, drama, and realism that he gives to it.
Hilarious and touching, the kind of role the Academy should nominate if they didn't always go for over the top drama. (like Benecio del Toro's unintentionally eye-rolling and hilariously horrible turn as a heroin-addict/best-friend-wife's cuddler in Things We Lost in the Fire.) -
Dane Cook = Me No Watchy.
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Every night of the year!
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The movie was okay. It kinda fell apart at the end but the message of these movies always confuses me. Not that it's a message movie but it just seems like they're saying things that don't make sense like widowers are jerks for being attracted to people and having rules for their children. I don't know I almost had to kill a few people for talking in my theater so that didn't help either. It was okay though, better than most RomComs and they make a good-looking couple.
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Yeah, that makes about as much sense as Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl. Who the hell casts these movies? And I don't care how good Carell is in this film - the participation of the unfunny, unattractive Dane Cook puts the total kibosh on it for me. He's the kiss of death.
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Carell can do more. Doesnt sound good at all! Lets hope he doesnt get lost in these kinds of movies.
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