Dan in Real Life
One doesn’t have to look very far to discover that we live in a cynical world, by and large. Film reviews often chide films for being too positive, too sappy, or too predictable. Dan in Real Life is an example of a wonderful film that was unfairly hosed by a good portion of critics for being all of the things that the film intended to be. It seems a little like critiquing Love Actually or some other romantic comedy for being “too romantic.” That’s the part of the majority of critics that I don’t get, I suppose. Somewhere along the line, film critics stopped actually enjoying the films they saw and started waiting anxiously to be impressed.
Enough ranting about critics, as I’m sure I’ve done my fair share here. Dan in Real Life is a sugary sweet film that takes a poignant look at a family spending time together at a large reunion. Dan Burns, played here to perfection by the underrated Steve Carell, is a widowed father of three girls. He is doing the best he can to raise his girls, of course, but as a result of their ages and their life issues, it seems that Dan can never do anything right. To make matters more complicated, Dan is the writer of an advice column and is often thought to have “all of the answers.” He is never able to take much time for himself to allow for personal growth or even personal healing, so his life often appears to spiral painfully out of control. Carell does a wonderful job reigning in the performance and electing to act at a steady pace instead of reaching for emotional outbursts or moments of grandeur.
At the family reunion, Dan takes a break from the action and heads into town. While there, he meets a beautiful stranger (Juliette Binoche) and strikes up a conversation. The two instantly are drawn to one another and Dan heads back to the family reunion thinking he has met someone. Unfortunately, it is soon revealed that the beautiful stranger, Marie, is actually the girlfriend of one of his brothers (Dane Cook). Dan and Marie must attempt to keep their feelings for one another at bay and try to simplify their relationship so as to not hurt Dan’s brother. Dan struggles with this and various family events become awkward. Dan’s parents, played by John Mahoney and Dianne Wiest, attempt to hold things together.
Dan in Real Life functions because of the chemistry between the performers and because of the remarkable acting on display here. As mentioned, Carell is tremendous. This is not the broken down family role that we see in Little Miss Sunshine, so Carell plays his character differently as a result. The family is tight-knit, often overly tight-knit, and participate in all sorts of games and interesting rituals with one another. Some critics doubtlessly critique the overall family dynamic as being unrealistic, but in the context of the story and within the context of actual families like this existing, the family dynamic in the film is rather easy to relate to. With morning aerobics, talent shows, and all sorts of goofy games, this family is instantaneously endearing as it resonates with pieces of family life that we’ve all experienced in some capacity. The change from the typical norm of “family movies” in Hollywood from a dysfunctional unit to a loving, close unit was refreshing in this film.
Carell is the comic everyman. Like Roger Ebert said, he’s like a “very very low key Jack Lemmon” in a lot of ways. It is Carell’s undeniably comic traits that really inject some flavour into this film. The goal for Carell within the context of Dan in Real Life is to allow the situation to resolve itself on its own, without his mucking about and being “funny.” Instead, he plays it relatively straight while still turning out one hell of a performance. The moment in which Carell’s Dan finishes his brother’s song during the talent show is one of the finer performance moments I have seen on screen all year thus far. It is deeply touching, subtle, and entirely effective.
Juliette Binoche is a first rate actress. You certainly don’t need me to tell you that, I’m sure. But within the frame of Dan in Real Life, she too is given a job to do and she does so with tender care and attention. Her attentive portrayal of Marie is a highlight in and of itself, as she longingly contemplates Dan while still trying to remain faithful emotionally and mentally to her boyfriend, Dan’s brother Mitch. The physical and sexual element is left on the back burner, thankfully, and instead of teasing a torrid love affair, Dan in Real Life teasing love in a deeper sense. This isn’t a lusty encounter behind closed doors at a family reunion with comic results. Instead, this is a testimony to natural, human longing for something that cannot possibly be possessed. It is heartrending.
Dan in Real Life is a soothing film, really. Director Peter Hedges is simply guiding us along with this one, pushing all of the right buttons. It’s not intended to shock or provoke. It’s not intended to deliver over-the-top tour de force personalities, but in that respect it essentially delivers some of the finer performances of the year. Binoche, Carell, Wiest, and even Dane Cook are all compelling in this film. They fit their characters well. Cook does not attempt to be funny, proving that he can be one hell of a fine actor if need be. Dan in Real Life is a wonderful film to see around the holidays, as it restores faith in the beautiful potential of soothing cinema and is truly a nice, warm, relaxing film to enjoy. See it.
Trailer:
