Hedges' new comedy drama Dan in Real Life lacks luster

A few years ago, when I was still a young, impressionable lad, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart had some of the funniest correspondents to keep me informed on both real and fake news. One of them now has his own excellent show on after The Daily Show (Stephen Colbert), while another is on an excellent show that has nothing to do with The Daily Show (Steve Carell). I'm going to talk about the latter.

Steve Carell is a really popular guy these days, and for good reason: he's really funny and he's really likable. Carell is currently the star of NBC's Emmy award-winning show The Office, and he's even won a Golden Globe for his performance as the desperate-to-be-loved-but-failing-miserably boss, Michael Scott.

Dan in Real Life, a new film from Peter Hedges, finds Steve Carell in a role that's a little different.

Dan Burns (Carell) is a columnist for a New Jersey newspaper who gives advice about family relationships. But while visiting his family in Rhode Island, Dan discovers he still has a lot to learn about love, and he might have to take a little advice from himself.

Now, I know that sounds like it could end up being rather schmaltzy, and yes, it does end up doing so. In fact, it's hard to read my synopsis and not hear in it the voice of the guy who narrates the trailers for family movies and tearjerkers.

But Dan in Real Life isn't a tearjerker. Actually, it's more of an audience-jerker because the themes and morals seem so fickle. At times, the story seems to be aiming for one message, but later it turns around and tries to say something else. And it isn't a twist; it's more like being incoherent or indecisive.

Even though it isn't a tearjerker, Dan in Real Life is still kind of sappy, but considering this is a movie about family and love, sap is completely expected. I'm just letting you know it isn't a typical comedy where the goal is to always have you laughing, but instead one that is a little sad and attempts to be more realistic.

And yet, even though it has characters that are clearly trying to act in realistic ways, the direction sometimes appears to be deliberately pulling you out of the movie by means of unnecessary montages. The movie will be chugging along, demonstrating straightforward direction that fits with the mood, when suddenly a montage comes in and grabs you out of what had been working just fine. It wouldn't be an issue if it happened just once, but it happens often enough to make you wonder.

I know by this point you might be thinking, "You're generous giving three stars to a movie you clearly don't like." You're absolutely right; three stars would be excessive for a bad movie. But Dan in Real Life isn't a bad movie. It has its flaws, but it also has a lot of things going for it.

There is a reason I started the article talking about Mr. Carell. His performance as Dan is top-notch. This role adds to the versatility we saw in The Office and The 40-Year-Old Virgin. He brings the realism to the characters that the film is clearly aiming for.

Besides our leading man, Juliette Binoche is excellent as Dan's love interest, and Dane Cook is able to tone down his usual manic style in order to deliver as Dan's brother Mitch.The story itself is fine, and although it will take some predictable turns, overall it serves as a decent medium for the actors to give great performances.

Dan in Real Life probably won't be winning any awards for best comedy of the year, but it certainly isn't a waste. If you're a Steve Carell fan, give this one a chance.