Themes: Love Triangles, Parenthood, Single Parents
Main Cast: Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook, Alison Pill, Brittany Robertson
Release Year: 2007
Country: US
Run Time: 98 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
A widower and father of three who also writes a parenting advice column for his local newspaper falls for the girlfriend of his younger brother during a family vacation in director Peter Hedges' offbeat love triangle laugher. Steve Carell stars as the writer who finds his widely-known convictions put to the ultimate test, with Dane Cook and Juliette Binoche respectively assuming the roles of the younger sibling and his radiant girlfriend. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Review
An irrepressible sweetness lies at the core of Peter Hedges' romantic comedy Dan in Real Life that makes it difficult to resist. We've seen the central characters and situations dozens of times before, and the script (which Hedges co-authored with Pierce Gardner) will never be mistaken for having any depth, but Steve Carell's winning evocation of a loveable, semi-sad sack everyman widower gives the film a buoyancy that makes it transcendently, adamantly likeable. That may be more of a compliment than it initially seems: as Dan Burns, Carell has to work triply hard because of an uneven script, and because several of the supporting characters - played by such notables as the gifted Dianne Wiest and John Mahoney - feel so supremely irritating and grating that their presence detracts from the film. The central conflict involves Dan falling instantly for a woman he meets in a bookstore, Marie (Juliette Binoche) and subsequently discovering that she's romantically involved with his younger brother Mitch (Dane Cook); this unfolds against the backdrop of Dan's family retreat with his parents (Wiest and Mahoney), his three daughters and his assorted siblings. Hedges may have a proclivity for working out conflicts within super-dysfunctional families (as in his 2003 Pieces of April), but this one takes the cake. Does he realize how supremely obnoxious these people are? Anyone who dreads the inclusion of movie sing-alongs (ala Stepmom) should beware: this may be the first movie family in history to perform coordinated aerobic routines to Earth, Wind and Fire's "September", and to stage an entire talent show, with costumes and musical numbers, in their living room. (How in the world they managed to produce a son as well-adjusted as Dan, even taking his flaws into account, is a complete enigma). As for the tone of Carell's character, however, Hedges has his finger on the audience's pulse; we know from the first shot of the film how it should end, and the director doesn't let us down. Moreover, we never fail to empathize with Dan as he begins inching - and then clawing, with wonderfully droll (and sometimes manipulative) aggressiveness - toward his one major shot at happiness. Though this movie falls far short of the gut-busting hilarity that Carell generated in The 40 Year Old Virgin and exhibits on The Office, such isn't its intention; Hedges seems content to weave a warm, lingering spell with scattered flyspecks of humor. And for the most part, that works. The film even manages to survive the casting of the supremely untalented Cook, who somehow exhibits a satisfying and genial onscreen presence here in defiance of the nimble-headed boob he has to play. If the script suffers from one major, overriding weakness, it is simply the fact that Hedges and Gardner gloss over an onscreen depiction of Dan and Marie's first lengthy encounter together, via a series of montages and flash forwards. If we're going to root for their being together, we should know exactly what is at stake - otherwise, given the content of the subsequent scenes with the Burns family, Dan's emotions risk coming across as one-sided infatuation. Binoche exhibits a wondrous presence as always, despite being given precious little to work with; uniquely beautiful, distinguished, and sophisticated (qualities that recall Catherine Keener in Virgin), she's a perfect romantic lead for Carell. (Did it occur to anyone, though, given Binoche's enlistment as the female lead, that this is essentially a comic variant of the creepy dramatic situation that she dealt with in Damage?) Dan and Marie deserve happiness with one another; had Hedges jettisoned the sitcom-level, romantic triangle subplot and explored the nuances and gradations of their relationship within a more intelligent framework, he might have produced a small masterpiece instead of simply a good-natured audience-pleaser. Still, there is much here to enjoy. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Marlene Lawston - Lilly; Dianne Wiest - Nana; John Mahoney - Poppy; Norbert Leo Butz - Clay; Amy Ryan - Eileen; Jessica Hecht - Amy; Frank Wood - Howard; Henry Miller - Will; Ella Miller - Rachel; Cameron Adams - Elliot; Jessica Lussier - Jessica; Seth D'Antuono - Gus; Margot Janson - Olivia; Willa Cuthrell-Tuttleman - Bella; Emily Blunt - Ruthie Draper; Felipe Dieppa - Marty Barasco; Matthew J. Morrison - Policeman; Bernie McInerney - James Lamson; Amy Landecker - Cindy Lamson; Steve Mellor - Bookstore Clerk; Pauline Gregory - Bowling Alley Manager; Shana Carr - Suzanne Burns; Nicole Morin - Jane (Age 13); Charlotte Davies - Cara (Age 11); Zoe Paulkis - Lilly (Age 4); Lucas Hedges - Lilly's Dance Partner; Sondre Lerche - Sondre Lerche; Kato Ådland - Wedding Band Guitar Player; Ole Ludvig Krüger - Wedding Band Drummer; Morten Skage - Wedding Band Bass Player; Marci Occhino - Wedding Singer; Michael Peavey - Helicopter Pilot
Credit
Mark Garner - Art Director, Ginny Brewer - Associate Producer, David M. Roberts - Boom Operator, Bernie Telsey - Casting, Will Cantler - Casting, David Vaccari - Casting, Dianne Dreyer - Co-producer, Alix Friedberg - Costume Designer, Molly O'Haver - Costume Designer, Stephen P. Dunn - First Assistant Director, Peter Hedges - Director, Sarah Flack - Editor, Mari Jo Winkler-Ioffreda - Executive Producer, Noah Rosen - Executive Producer, Darlene Caamano Loquet - Executive Producer, Alan D'Angerio - Hair Styles, Emma Lacarbonara Rotondi - Hair Styles, Maria Bierniak - Location Manager, Ryan A. Rodriguez - Lighting, Geoff Dann - Lighting, Tom "TK" Kennan - Lighting, Mark Lewis - Lighting, John F. McPhee - Lighting, Sondre Lerche - Composer (Music Score), Sonny Kompanek - Musical Arrangement, Lawrence Manchester - Musical Arrangement, Dana Sano - Musical Direction/Supervision, Sondre Lerche - Songwriter, Trish Seeney - Makeup, Daniel B. Gold - Camera Operator, Faires Anderson Sekiya - Camera Operator, Sarah Knowles - Production Designer, Lawrence Sher - Cinematographer, Jonathan Shestack - Producer, Brad Epstein - Producer, Lawrence Manchester - Recording, Jason Stasium - Recording, Kato Ådland - Recording, Jørgen Træen - Recording, Geoffrey S. Grimsman - Set Designer, Gerald Donlan - Sound Editor, Chick Bernhardt - Stunts, Dino Muccio - Stunts, Chris Barnes - Stunts, Tina McKissick - Stunts, Shawnna Thibodeau - Stunts, Erik M. Solky - Stunts, Rosie Bernhard - Stunts, Anthony Molinari - Stunts, Jared Burke - Stunts, Paul Marini - Stunts, Sabine Varnes - Stunts, Barbara Lee-Belmonte - Stunts, Jeff Medeiros - Stunts, Rick Sordelet - Stunts Coordinator, Steve Kirshoff - Special Effects Supervisor, Mari Jo Winkler-Ioffreda - Unit Production Manager, Peter Hedges - Screenwriter, Pierce Gardner - Screenwriter, Robert Barocci - Second Unit Director Of Photography, David Lingenfelser - Visual Effects Supervisor, Heather Gross - Sound Effects Editor, Scott Levine - Unit Publicist, David Norris - Aerial Photography, John S. Baker - CGI Effects, Bryan Chavez - CGI Effects, Chris Mackinnon - CGI Effects, Peg Hall-Plessas - Dialogue Coach, Peter Kuttner - First Assistant Camera, Julie Donovan - First Assistant Camera, John Velez - Gaffer, Jen Evans - Grip, Robert Kelly - Grip, Jeffrey King - Grip, Bill LeClair - Grip, William M. Weberg - Key Grip, Alexis Wiscomb - Post Production Coordinator, Jennifer Lane - Post Production Supervisor, Susan M. Ehrhart - Production Coordinator, Erica Kay - Production Supervisor, David Gulick - Properties Master, Roberto Fernandez - Re-Recording Mixer, Dominick Tavella - Re-Recording Mixer, Dianne Dreyer - Script Supervisor, Paul Prenderville - Second Assistant Director, Greg Morell - Special Effects Coordinator, Faires Anderson Sekiya - Steadicam Operator, Merie Weismiller Wallace - Still Photographer, Eliza Paley - Supervising Sound Editor, Tracy Takahashi - Visual Effects Producer, Jane McCulley - ADR Editor, Bobby Johanson - ADR Mixer, Krissopher Chevannes - ADR Recordist, Ashleigh Stanczak - Art Department Assistant, Ian MacGregor - Assistant Location Manager, Marie Rodriguez - Assistant Production Coordinator, Sarah Connolly - Assistant Production Coordinator, Jennifer Gerbino - Assistant Properties, Igor Nikolic - Assistant Sound Editor, Darrin Smith - Best Boy Electric, Warren Weberg - Best Boy Grip, Morgan Kling - Buyer, Gretchen Schlottman - Buyer, Suzanne Dietz - Camera Loader, Chris Scheeren - Casting Assistant, Stephanie Yankwitt - Casting Assistant, Tiffany Little Canfield - Casting Associate, Joseph Kearney - Construction Coordinator, Hope Slepak - Costumes Supervisor, Sean Farrell - DGA Intern, Laura Civiello - Dialogue Editor, Carolyn Pickman - Extra Casting, Grant Wilfley Casting Incorporated - Extra Casting, Anne Mulhall - Extra Casting, Michael Johnson - First Assistant Accountant, Janet Gaynor - First Assistant Editor, Jack Peck - Foley Artist, Jeff Debell - Greensman, John James - Key Hairstylist, Matiki Anoff - Key Make-up, Richard Brunton - Leadman, Trevanna Post - Post Production Accountant, Michelle Sarama - Post Production Accountant, Diana Ascher - Post Production Accountant, Jen Choi - Post Production Assistant, Kenneth J. Lafayette - Production Accountant, Felix Chen - Production Accountant, Lindsay Medeiros - Production Accountant, Hope Ardizzone - Scenic Artist, Krzysztof J. Bratun - Scenic Artist, Marci Graber - Second Assistant Accountant, Joanna Spears - Second Assistant Accountant, Bryan G. Haigh - Second Assistant Camera, Thom Willey - Second Assistant Camera, Daniela Barbosa - Second Second Assistant Director, Timothy T. Lewis - Set Dresser, Guy Bremel - Set Dresser, Holly Laws - Set Dresser, Mark O'Neill - Set Dresser, Tim Rowcroft - Set Dresser, Timandra Alys Vincent - Set Dresser, Harry Lapham - Set Production Assistant, Brad Robinson - Set Production Assistant, Catherine Feeney - Set Production Assistant, Mark Killian - Set Production Assistant, Briana Taylor - Set Production Assistant, Nate Winslow - Set Production Assistant, John F. Davis - Storyboard Artist, Robert L. Buckman - Transportation Captain, Michael Hyde - Transportation Coordinator, FURIOUS FX - Visual Effects, Kyra Friedman-Curcio - Set Decorator, Stephen Deboer - Construction Foreman, Theodore Suchecki - Construction Foreman, Reel Chefs Catering - Craft Service/Catering, Tracy R. Spiegel - Craft Service/Catering, Ryan Collison - Foley Recordist, William Sweeney - Foley Supervisor, Lon Caracappa - Generator Operator, Katie M. Murphy - Production Secretary, John Pritchett - Production Sound Mixer, Jack McCullough - Set Medic/First Aid, Alfredo Cairo - Special Effects Technician, Charles Laughon - Video Assist, Edward A. Ioffreda - Graphic Design, Katherine Tower - Graphic Design, yU+Co - Title Design, J.M. Hunter - Art Department Coordinator, Mike Patrick - Assistant Music Editor, Debora Lilavois - Assistant Music Editor, Nathan J. Busch - Department Head Hair, LuAnn Claps - Department Head Makeup, Tony Shaff - Assistant to the Director, Connie Kim - Producer's Assistant, Kevin Lang - Producer's Assistant, Emily Lysaght - Producer's Assistant, Shannon Petranoff - Producer's Assistant, Jon Schermerhorn - Producer's Assistant, Jeremy Stein - Producer's Assistant, Sean O'Connor - Compositor, Eric Cullen - Rotoscope Artist
Dan Burns (Steve Carell) is a newspaper advice columnist, widower and father to Jane, Cara, and Lilly in the New Jersey suburbs. His column is in contention to be syndicated nationally. The family takes a trip to the Rhode Island home of his parents (Dianne Wiest and John Mahoney) to visit his family—including his New York City-based brother, Mitch (Dane Cook), a personal trainer—for an annual family get together. Cara does not want to go, as she does not want to leave her boyfriend Marty (Felipe Dieppa) with whom she claims to have fallen in love in just three days. But Dan insists that it is not possible to fall in love in three days and makes her go. The morning after his arrival, Dan's mother encourages him to go into town for a bit to give his daughters some space. Dan visits a bookstore and a customer named Marie (Juliette Binoche) mistakes him for an employee. Dan and Marie have an obvious connection and continue to talk over breakfast. Marie agrees to meet with Dan again before leaving but tells Dan that she has a boyfriend. Dan returns to his parents' house and happily announces he has met someone new, only to find that Marie is there, her boyfriend being Dan's brother, Mitch.
Dan and Marie spend the majority of their time trying to deny their attraction to each other. Cara's boyfriend shows up despite the long journey but is sent home by Dan. Cara chases the car and cries and calls out, "You are a murderer of love!" to Dan when Marty is out of sight. During a family talent show, Dan plays guitar while Mitch sings Pete Townshend's "Let My Love Open the Door." But Mitch forgets the words, and Dan steps in, serenading Marie in front of his brother. Marie is unable to continue to deny her feelings for Dan, and she breaks up with Mitch, which makes him distraught. Before leaving town, she calls Dan, and they meet at a bowling alley. After spending some time bowling, Marie and Dan end up kissing. At this point, Dan's family shows up at the bowling alley. Surprised and infuriated at Dan for his betrayal, Mitch punches Dan in the face and Marie runs out.
A short time later, Dan finally meets with a father and daughter who run the newspaper media company. His family sits in on the meeting. Lost at what he has experienced, the meeting turns awkward but unresolved. Dan talks to his daughters and admits he is in love with Marie, even though he has only known her three days. Encouraged by his parents and the three girls, he goes after Marie. Dan finally lets his oldest daughter Jane drive, because his driving license has been annulled due to numerous traffic incidents. The film ends with Dan and his family in New York City where they find Marie at her gym and the two make eye contact, to a voiceover in which Dan narrates his column to the readers, indicating that he was chosen by the newspaper media company to have his column nationally syndicated.
The ending scene in the film shows Dan and Marie descending the steps of his parents' home and dancing following their marriage. Mitch is seen happily dancing with Ruthie Draper, a childhood friend of Mitch's and Dan's.
The film opened October 26, 2007 in the United States and Canada and grossed $11.8 million in 1,921 theaters its opening weekend, ranking #2 at the box office.[3] As of July 6, 2008, it has grossed $62,745,217.
It was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on March 11, 2008.
Critical reception
The film received generally positive reaction from film critics. As of May 1, 2008 on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film received positive reviews from 65% of its critics based on 154 reviews, and received a "fresh" rating.[4] On Metacritic, the film had an average score of 65 out of 100, based on 34 reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews.[5]
Time magazine's Richard Schickel named the film one of the Top 10 Movies of 2007, ranking it at #10, calling it a “sweet, yet tangy dessert” and Steve Carell’s performance “wonderful”.[6]
Production
The opening scene was in New Jersey and then Rhode Island in the cities of Newport, East Greenwich, West Greenwich, Jamestown, Westerly, and Providence in November and December 2006. The opening scene was filmed at Seven Stars Bakery in Providence. However, the facade of the building and the interior are altered. When Dan is pulled over by the Rhode Island State Police, he is on Ocean Ave. in Newport. In scenes filmed in Jamestown, two bridges are clearly visible: the Jamestown Bridge and its replacement, the Jamestown-Verrazzano Bridge. Demolition of the Jamestown Bridge was initiated on April 18, 2006. The film also cast local residents of Aquidneck Island as Dan's nieces and nephews. The date scene was filmed in two different places in Westerly. The inside shots were filmed at Alley Katz Bowling center, while the exterior shots were filmed at Misquamicut Beach. What is now the Windjammer was dressed to look like the outside of the bowling center.
Soundtrack
Norwegian singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche composed the majority of the music in the film, and has a cameo appearance in a scene at the end.
