Dan in Real Life

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dan in Real Life

Theatrical release poster.
Directed by Peter Hedges
Produced by Jonathan Shestack
Written by Pierce Garnder
Peter Hedges
Starring Steve Carell
Juliette Binoche
Dianne Wiest
John Mahoney
Dane Cook
Jessica Hecht
Music by Sondre Lerche
Distributed by Focus Features (non-USA)
Touchstone Pictures for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (U.S.)
Release date(s) October 26, 2007
Running time 98 min.
Country United States
Language English
Budget $25,000,000 (estimated)
IMDb profile

Dan in Real Life is a 2007 American dramedy film directed by Peter Hedges and starring Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Dan Burns (Steve Carell), is a newspaper columnist and a widowed father of three girls: Jane, Cara, and Lily. Jane has a driver's license, but Dan does not allow her to drive his car. Cara is very much in love with her boyfriend, but Dan thinks she is too young for that and keeps them apart. Cara is furious and repeatedly calls her father a murderer of love. Dan and his daughters take a trip to the home of his parents and visits his family, including his brother Mitch (Dane Cook). The morning after his arrival, Dan is encouraged by his mother to go into town for a bit to give his daughters some space. Dan visits a bookstore and is mistaken for an employee by a beautiful woman, Marie (Juliette Binoche). Dan and Marie strike up a conversation and continue their talk over coffee. They lose track of time, but both are clearly attracted to the other, although, as Marie tells Dan, she has a boyfriend. Dan returns to his parents and is surprised when Mitch introduces his girlfriend: Marie.

Dan and Marie spend the majority of their time trying to deny their attraction to each other. Finally, unable to deny her feelings for Dan, Marie breaks up with Mitch. Before leaving town, she calls Dan, who meets her at a bowling alley and challenges her to a game. After spending some time bowling, Marie and Dan embrace and begin kissing. They are surprised when Dan's family shows up. Mitch is incensed and punches Dan; Marie runs out.

Dan talks to his daughters and admits he is in love with Marie. Encouraged by his parents and his three girls, he goes after Marie. Finally Jane is allowed to drive, because Dan's driving license has been revoked because of poor driving. The ending scene in the film shows Dan and Marie descending the steps of his parents home and dancing following their marriage. Mitch is also seen happily dancing with Ruthie "Pigface" Draper, a childhood friend of Mitch and Dan's, and the woman their mother set Dan up with on a double date with Mitch and Marie earlier in the movie.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Box office performance

The film opened October 26, 2007 in the United States and Canada and grossed $11.8 million in 1,921 theaters its opening weekend, ranking #2 at the box office.[1] As of January 24, 2008, it has grossed $52,017,821.

It was released on DVD on March 11, 2008.

[edit] Critical reception

The film received generally positive reaction from film critics. As of March 2, 2008 on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film received positive reviews from 67% of its critics based on 141 reviews, and received a "fresh" rating.[2] On Metacritic, the film had an average score of 65 out of 100, based on 32 reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews.[3]

Time magazine's Richard Schickel named the film one of the Top 10 Movies of 2007, ranking it at #10, calling it a “sweet, yet tangy dessert” and Steve Carell’s performance “wonderful”.[4]

[edit] Production

It was filmed in Rhode Island in the cities of Newport, East Greenwich, West Greenwich, Jamestown, Westerly, and Providence in November and December 2006. The opening scene was filmed at Seven Stars Bakery in Providence. However, the facade of the building and the interior are altered. When Dan is pulled over by the Newport Police, he is on Ocean Ave. in Newport. In scenes filmed in Jamestown, two bridges are clearly visible: the Jamestown Bridge and its replacement, the Jamestown-Verrazano Bridge. Demolition of the Jamestown Bridge was initiated on April 18, 2006.

[edit] Soundtrack

Norwegian singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche composed the majority of the music in the film, and has a cameo appearance in a scene at the end.

Full soundtrack listing:

  1. "Family Theme Waltz" - Sondre Lerche
  2. "To Be Surprised" - Sondre Lerche
  3. "I'll Be OK" - Sondre Lerche
  4. "Dan and Marie Picking Hum" - Sondre Lerche
  5. "My Hands Are Shaking" - Sondre Lerche
  6. "Dan in Real Life" - Sondre Lerche
  7. "Hell No" - Sondre Lerche and Regina Spektor
  8. "Family Theme" - Sondre Lerche
  9. "Fever" - A Fine Frenzy
  10. "Airport Taxi Reception" - Sondre Lerche and The Faces Down Quartet
  11. "Dan and Marie Melody" - Sondre Lerche
  12. "Human Hands" - Sondre Lerche and The Faces Down Quartet
  13. "I'll Be OK" (Instrumental Reprise) - Sondre Lerche
  14. "Let My Love Open The Door" - Pete Townshend
  15. "Dan and Marie Finale Theme" - Sondre Lerche
  16. "Modern Nature" - Sondre Lerche and Lillian Samdal
  17. "Untitled" (bonus track) - Dane Cook and Norbert Leo Butz, taken from a scene in the movie

"Mr. Blue Sky" by the Electric Light Orchestra is featured in the TV and radio advertisements for the movie, as well as "Let My Love Open the Door" by Pete Townshend and "Henrietta" by The Fratellis. The club mix of Inaya Day's "Nasty Girl" is also featured in one scene in the movie but is not on the soundtrack.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dan in Real Life (2007) - Weekend Box Office. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved on 2007-10-30.
  2. ^ Dan in Real Life - Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
  3. ^ Dan in Real Life (2007): Reviews. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
  4. ^ Schickel, Richard; “The 10 Best Movies”; time.com

[edit] External links