This film - indie filmmaker Peter Hedges's follow up to Pieces of April - tells the story of Dan Burns (Carell), a widowed advice columnist having a tough time following his own advice. He keeps his three daughters under tight control and isn't putting any effort into building a new intimate relationship. However, during a family excursion to a countryside cabin, he meets and falls for Marie (Binoche), who also happens to be his brother Mitch's (Cook) girlfriend.
The set-up may smell of a clichéd romantic comedy, but it turns out to be a surprisingly charming film about heartbreak and healing.
Steve Carell is the key to the movie's success. He uncovers and emphasizes the humor in Dan without sacrificing his everyman allure. His ability to make a character hilarious and sympathetic at the same time places him miles ahead of his comedy contemporaries. He also works wonders with co-star Juliette Binoche; the two have noticible chemistry on screen.
The rest of the film serves wonderfully in accentuating Carell and Binoche's performances. Writer/director Peter Hedges deftly balances Dan's budding romance with Dan's relationship to his three daughters. The rest of the cast turns in solid performances as well, with Dane Cook notably appealing. Still, it all comes down to our favorite 40-year-old virgin. Simple, funny and amiable, Dan in Real Life solidifies Carell's position as one of today's top comedic actors.
