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 Reel Life with Jane!Get the latest scoop on family-friendly movies at the theatre and on DVD! DAN IN REAL LIFE by Jane Louise Boursaw Reel Rating: 3.5 Reels Cast: Steve Carell (Dan Burns), Juliette Binoche (Annie), Dane Cook (Mitch Burns), Dianne Wiest (Nana), John Mahoney (Poppy Burns), Emily Blunt (Ruthie Draper). Sex/ Nudity: Mild references to masturbation and "unclogging the pipes," a character makes out with her boyfriend and tells her dad she's not having sex, a character undresses and gets into the shower with another fully-clothed character, two characters kiss. Violence/Gore: A character falls out of a second-story window and gets hit in the face with a football. One character punches someone, and another backs into a police car. Profanity: One "damn" and one "f**k". Which Kids Will Like It? Ages 12 and older who like romantic comedies and/or are fans of Carell in “The Office” on NBC. Will Parents Like It? Yes, though some of the subject matter makes it unsuitable for kids younger than 12. Still, it's a good movie for older kids dealing with family and parenting issues. EXPERT REVIEW: Dan Burns (Steve Carell) is a widower, a single dad to three daughters, and a popular family advice columnist. The name of his column is “Dan in Real Life,” and he answers readers’ questions on everything from dating to dropping out of school. At his family's annual reunion at their lake cottage, he meets a beautiful stranger named Annie (Juliette Binoche) in a bookstore/bait shop. They immediately hit it off, but that joy is short-lived when Dan discovers that Annie is the incredible new girlfriend of his brother, Mitch (Dane Cook). This movie is funny, touching, and romantic, and it shows that no matter how you slice it, relationships are messy. It’s nice to see Steve Carell be the romantic lead for once, instead of that moronic dolt Michael Scott on “The Office.” But don’t worry – we still get to see him do some physical comedy, like falling off a roof and doing his goofy dance steps. Even though it’s billed as a romantic comedy, much of the movie is about the delicate thread that weaves families together. John Mahoney and Dianne Wiest are wonderfully funny as Dan’s parents, and Alison Pill, Brittany Robertson, and Marlene Lawston hit all the right notes as his daughters. I'm not sure the chemistry is right between Carell and Binoche. I didn't really sense that these two would fall for each other in such a big way, but I did warm up to the idea by the time they snuck away to a sweet encounter in a bowling alley. The movie also seemed a little long. I checked my watch a few times in the middle. What I DID love about this movie is that aside from a few innuendos, it's mercifully free of profanity and violence. Also, the soundtrack featuring tunes by Sondre Lerche is wonderful. JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM : One Reel: Pathetic. Even The Force can’t save it. Two Reels: Tolerable. Coulda been a contender. Three Reels: Something to talk about. Four Reels: You want the truth? Great flick! Five Reels: Wow! The stuff dreams are made of. Jane Louise Boursaw is a freelance journalist specializing in the movie and television industries. Visit her online at www.ReelLifeWithJane.com or email jboursaw@charter.net
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PLOT SYNOPSIS: Steve Carell plays a widower, a single dad to three daughters, and a family advice columnist. Prior to a family reunion, he meets a woman named Annie (Juliette Binoche) who turns out to be the incredible new girlfriend that his brother (Dane Cook) is bringing to meet the family.
As the reunion gets underway, Dan and Annie scramble to hide their mutual attraction for each other - awkward! Dan learns that even though he makes a living dispensing advice to others, it's not so easy following it himself.