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The forever-long discussion on the meaning of life and the quest for discerning a place in a world of fleeting humanity continues without wavering to reverberate within the minds of many individuals. For the soul who - despite being surrounded by a loving family and charming friends - finds his or herself alone, discernment of such a place is the crucial link to fostering personal growth and realization. In a film flowing with themes of existentialism and a deep longing for the attainment of romance amid the disarray of a widowed family, Dan in Real Life employs an awkward illustration of familial and relational behaviors to achieve humor and an answer to life's prototypical question.
Steve Carell is a comedian whose exemplary use of situational and slapstick humor has allowed for sustained accomplishment in a flourishing career. Known most for his quotable performances on NBC's The Office, Carell's character within his newest film is one which exemplifies his most comedic traits: his reaction to dialogue and situations with the resounding language of facial and bodily movements.
Dan Burns (Carell) is a widowed husband struggling to understand the growth of his three daughters while maintaining a life of relative normality. Ironically, despite his successful column "Dan in Real Life," which provides advice and philosophical one-liners for family growth, Dan finds himself unable to take heed of the eloquent thinking he writes and sees published each week. It is not until he falls for his brother's girlfriend, Marie (Juliette Binoche), that Dan undergoes an epiphany that allows for the redemption of his family life and the possibility of loving a woman again.
Peter Hedges, both co-writer and director of the film, has fashioned a story worthy of the Focus Features name. Focus films often have existential themes embedded in them, causing audiences to question the aspects of humanity. While Hedges's film may not fall among the most dramatic of Focus' films, it remains more than a simple comedy. The family of Dan in Real Life is one which any individual can relate to - quirky in its own, yet displaying a love that can never be undone.
Carell's performance as he interacts with his three daughters - each of which is trying to make sense of the world around them - is comically amusing and heartwarming at the same time. To understand life is a deed complex by nature, and Dan in Real Life makes complete sense of it in the most endearing of ways.
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