“Dan in real life”

So, I just watched the movie “Dan in real life”.

The movie stars Steve Carell (of “The Office” fame), Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook and a bunch of other actors, one of them being Amy Ryan (who some people might know as Beadie Russell from “The Wire”). The cast is something I feel is done right in this movie. No one feels totally out of place and it helps in making the movie feel true. Apart from some of the younger characters feeling a bit fake at times all the performances really echo the appearance of truth brought by the casting. Everyone gave the impression that they could actually be those people.

The movie introduces a dilemma that could very well become ridiculous, had it been done slightly differently, but it seems to me like everyone worked for the movie to not turn into  a generic comedy, or more appropriately said; a farce. The story stays leveled and, again, true. This is where I feel a seldom seen synergy: Everyone and everything in this movie seems to work towards actually selling the idea that this could happen, and the chain of events actually could play out just like it did in the movie.

One small thing I feel somewhat relieved by is the fact that Dane Cook didn’t take the steering wheel, but got to play an important support role to build up the drama and conflict, as well as serve a joke or two; something I feel he is more suited for than playing a lead role. I think he’s even more suited to doing stand-up and staying away from movies, but that’s beside the point.

All in all, I thought it was a good watch. “Dan in real life” isn’t hilarious. It’s also probably not a movie that will bring forth a flood of tears either. It’s a mix of a good story told in a good way, some good comedy kept in good balance and believable content brought forward in a believable way.

// Rickard “GoNZooo” Andersson.