It has been a while since I’ve seen an actor single-handedly elevate merely fair material with a transcendental performance. Steve Carell is the Dan of Dan in Real Life, and his touching turn as an unassuming newspaper columnist and father of three girls is on a level above the film’s perfectly acceptable cast – no small feat considering that Dianne Wiest, John Mahoney, and Juliette Binoche contribute to the ensemble.

Thus far, the comedian has displayed a knack for sharp sarcasm (Evan Almighty) and incredible insensitivity (The American version of The Office). Here, he adds earnestness, warmth, and pathos to his repertoire as he carries this contrived yet charming romantic generational comedy.

Director Peter Hedges’ goal is to establish a complicated love triangle, though it requires a rather large leap of faith on our parts. While assisting his siblings in winterizing their parents’ cabin, Dan meets beautiful stranger Marie (Binoche) in a neighbourhood bookstore. They playfully flirt, agree to share a muffin, and spend the afternoon conversing. Yet she fails to mention either why she is in the area or that she has a boyfriend... who happens to be Dan’s brother, Mitch (Dane Cook).

Such developments normally leave ‘coincidence’ in the rear view as we speed on toward ‘impossible’, but the film rebounds nicely: Hedges demonstrated in his small but sweet debut Pieces of April that he can manoeuvre through dysfunctional family humour. He has a tendency in Dan in Real Life to repeat his jokes – the same cop pulls Dan over repeatedly, and the dryer in his makeshift bedroom clunks along like a bum punch line hitting the pavement. But the comforting glow of a gathered family warms the movie from within, and the coincidences melt away as Wiest, Mahoney, Binoche, and co-star Emily Blunt bring needed flavour.

Sean O’Connell

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