Dan in Real Life was an excellent movie. It was exactly what it billed itself to be. Touching, tender, and laugh out loud funny.

The casting for this film was excellent and Steve Carell in particular put on a convincing performance as Dan Burns, a newspaper advice columnist who dished out advisement to others, but failed to take heed of it in his own daily life. Although the plot was fairly predictable, the dynamics and charismatic performances of the entire cast made up for it completely. It was very easy to find a connection with at least one of the characters in the film, and with the perfect mix of comedy and dramatics, it made for one huge rollercoaster ride.

I would highly recommend this film for couples. My wife and I enjoyed it entirely, and I will admit that I haven’t laughed so hard in quite awhile.

Synopsis:

The Burns clan is gathering at their vacation place on the Rhode Island shore: Dan (a widower with three daughters), plus his parents, various brothers and a sister and their families. At a bookstore the first morning he’s there, he chats up a woman, bares his soul and feels a connection before she gets a call and bolts. She’s seeing someone, who turns out to be one of Dan’s brothers. It’s a dicey couple of days at the house as Dan can’t keep his eyes off her, his brother is obviously falling in love, and everyone thinks she’s great. In this big supportive family, who will be the first to find that he tension is too much to bear? And after the snap, then what?