Dan in Real Life

After meeting a girl in a book store, Steve Carell says to brother Dane Cook,
"I think this girl is already taken."
"Not my problem."
"Yes it is."

Thus sets the premise of Dan in Real Life, about during a stay at the family cottage how an widower advice columnist falls in love - with his brother's girlfriend. Steve Carell works up once of his best performances in the new romantic dramedy, Dan in Real Life. When you consider how terrible his recent film Evan Almighty was, you really appreciate how natural and easy Carell acts - and that goes for the rest of the cast. Juliette Binoche, an incredible actress, is given a surprisingly deep role, as far as romantic comedy roles go for women nowadays.

Dan Burns is an widower advice columnist, with three beautiful daughters and one big family. So for the weekend they go and stay at the family cottage, and he goes to a bookstore. Then he meets Marie. They flirt, they talk, they eat. They seem almost made for each other...Then they have to go. Then, back at the house, Dan's bro Mitch introduces Dan to his girlfriend. Marie.

It's a very indie-style, romantic, sweet, funny movie. The naturality of the performances is well to praise, and the script is witty and funny. It's really a rarity, especially when this time of year we get pigeon-holed with R-rated dramas, that we get a movie as honest and open as this.

It lacks that traditional Steve Carell edge, but makes up for it in it's humor, sweetness, wit, and performances. A-