Dan in Real Life

Dan in Real Life (Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, John Mahoney, Dianne Wiest, Dane Cook) – Steve Carell came to stardom late (age 41) via his Evan Baxter character in Bruce Almighty.  From his perch in TV’s The Office, he has propelled himself to A-list comedy stardom and cemented his acting credentials as the morose, suicidal author in Little Miss Sunshine.  The trailer of Dan looked like a promising light comedy, but, alas, the film is short on comedy and long on “love at first sight” yearning.  Dan is a newspaper columnist, specializing in family advice, who was widowed four years earlier, forcing him to raise three daughters on his own.  He tries hard.  The kids are stereotyped – the practical eldest one; the rebellious, love-struck middle child; and the loving littlest tyke.  They all head to Rhode Island to join mom (Dianne Wiest), dad (John Mahoney), and all the brothers and sisters (I lost count) plus their kids to close up the summer beach house.  Dan is still unable to get over his wife’s death, schleps around a lot, and is just plain no fun.  So mom sends him to town to buy a newspaper and get some time away from the kids.  He meanders into a book store and meets Marie, played by Academy Award winner (for The English Patient) Juliette Binoche (why is she in this movie?  This part could have been played by lots of women who could have attracted movie-goers).  They hit it off (otherwise, there would not be a movie) in three hours and head their separate ways with Dan renewed and with Marie’s phone number in hand. Oh yes, then the movie begins.  Surprise!  She is Dan’s younger brother’s new girlfriend (apparently not very entranced).  OK, I’ll summarize the rest: surprise, longing, jealousy, forlornness, heartbreak, discovery, break-up, sadness, kid wisdom, love.  Will the ending be sad or happy?  Happy or really happy?  To find out – if you really want to – see the movie, but only do it if you like two-hour sitcoms.