DAN IN REAL LIFE

RYAN: Here’s something I’d like to see – Steve Carell in real life.

CAROLINE: Well, you’re going to have to settle for “Dan in Real Life,” the new romantic dramedy starring him and a bunch of other people.

RYAN: It’s definitely a dramedy, both serious and very funny. Steve Carell is hilarious, but there are moments where you totally empathize with his character and feel his discomfort as the only single person in his family.

CAROLINE: He plays a widowed dad of three girls. There are some hilarious moments, mostly provided by Steve Carell but also by his middle daughter who is over-the-top funny.

RYAN: All of the daughters are amazing, but what’s most impressive is the ensemble cast of fine actors. There’s Amy Ryan, breakout star from “Gone Baby Gone,” Dianne Wiest, Emily Blunt, Juliette Binoche and Dane Cook who I don’t even want to mention because he’s so annoying.

CAROLINE: Also Norbert Leo Butz who starred in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” on Broadway.

RYAN: He was the original male lead in Broadway’s “Wicked” and he won the Tony for “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.” And yet there are two scenes in the film where Dane Cook sings and you know that Norbert was sitting there cringing and thinking, “I’m a Tony winner and I don’t even get to sing in this film.”

CAROLINE: Juliette Binoche plays Dane Cook’s girlfriend, and she’s pretty cute despite her unidentifiable accent in the movie. It’s not her usual full French accent, but it’s decidedly not American either. And I couldn’t tell if she was trying to do a real American accent, but if she was, it didn’t work.

RYAN: That was a little strange. And you pointed out to me during the film that they talk about her character being so worldly and well traveled, so maybe she’s supposed to have some vague European accent. But it would have helped if they explained her background more.

CAROLINE: I definitely liked this movie though I wonder if I would have enjoyed it as much if Steve Carell weren’t in it.

RYAN: Who cares? Let’s look at the film that it is, and it’s a really enjoyable one. I’m just so happy that we’re finally in great movie season; we’ve seen so many good ones this week.

CAROLINE: “Dan in Real Life” is everything that “The Family Stone” wanted to be and failed. Bottom line?

RYAN: I loved the music and cinematography and it’s just a great family dramedy. There’s something very real about it. It’s so well written and performed. I definitely recommend it.

CAROLINE: It takes place in a really beautiful house in Rhode Island, which definitely helps. I come from a small family so it was really fun to watch a big, loud family spend the weekend together. It’s a funny and heartwarming film, and I loved the ending.

RYAN: And watch out for one fabulously original dance number in a bar.