Dan in Real Life

A comedic actor traveling into more dramatic territory is often a risky thing. For some, it turns out great (Tom Hanks in PHILADELPHIA, Jim Carrey in THE TRUMAN SHOW, etc.) but for others, it merely exposes their rather bland acting abilities (Will Ferrell in STRANGER THAN FICTION, Adam Sandler in SPANGLISH/REIGN OVER ME, etc.). Luckily for Steve Carrell, his latest foray into the world of dramedy, DAN IN REAL LIFE, is a complete triumph. The film itself is a bit of a mash-up; plot points and scenarios that are almost too-familiar strung together to make a by-the-books family comedy. Yet from the strength of Carrell’s performance, and the amiability of the whole cast, DAN IN REAL LIFE comes off better than it actually should.

Dan Burns (Carrell) is parental advice columnist whose writings seem to influence everyone’s life but his own. A widower with three daughters, Dan is a pitch-perfect example of a nervous father; forbidding his daughters from taking any chances (whether it be letting his oldest girl try driving or his middle daughter try dating) for fear of rather irrational dangers. He drags them along on a yearly family reunion, where they are bombarded by the enormous, nosy and cloying network of aunts and uncles, including Dianne Wiest and John Mahoney as the parents. On a routine book to the ol’ Book and Tackle Shop, Dan meets up with Marie (a radiant Juliette Binoche) a down-to-earth beauty. They instantly connect. Yet their relationship instantly becomes strained when Dan realizes that Marie is dating his brother Mitch (a surprisingly effective Dane Cook). As Dan’s feelings for Marie develop, his carefully planned way of life/parenting begins to crumble.

The plot is a bit ho-hum, and some of the comedic moments are far too familiar. Dan’s repeated run-ins with the same police officer fall flat, and the script subscribes to the belief that there’s nothing funnier than a middle-aged man trying to exercise or dance. Director and co-writer Peter Hedges (2003’s PIECES OF APRIL) constructs these scenes well, despite their clichéd nature. Laughter is obtained, yet it remains muted throughout. The film becomes stronger when it sets aside comic conventions and aims for honesty. These moments are incredibly effective and balance the tired shticks it wrings out to get laughs.

The main reason for the effectiveness of the dramatic scenes is the honest, likable cast that remains fully committed to the material. Carrell’s finest moments come from his subtler actions; many times, Dan seems so tightly wound that he’s an inch away from a complete breakdown. And while Dan is given the awkward romantic bent in many scenes, the more meaningful scenes become the film’s most affecting, heart wrenching moments. When Dan begins to express his true feelings through song (as one must do in a family dramedy) the self-consciousness and quietness Carrell brings to the scene lifts the entire sequence onto a level of unspeakable honesty. As Marie, Binoche contributes another compelling performance, excelling in both comedic and dramatic sequences. Binoche and Carrell certainly do make an unlikely pair, but by the film’s end, everyone in the audience will be convinced they were born for each other.

Without the film’s performances, DAN IN REAL LIFE would nowhere be the accomplishment it is. Yet Peter Hedges directs his leads to two of the best performances of the year, and the material is ably supported by the rest of the cast. The film is far from original, its borrowed conventions becoming painfully obvious at times. Despite this, it remains charming and carries its viewers through the entire experience. Not perfect by any means, but in a time where the market is saturated with Halloween horror movies and utterly serious awards contenders, it’s a welcome change to see a smaller film that speaks truthfully about the commitments of having a family while throwing some laughs in for good measure.

***1/2