David in Real Life

Today was a hurricane day and our school was "closed". I decided to check out Steve Carell's movie Dan in Real Life. I really got a kick out of the movie; it was one of those protagonist-is-pathetic-that-it's-funny movies (look at the poor guy laying in pancakes). That and Steve Carell is my favorite actor (mostly for his work on The Office.)

It's the story of a man named Dan, a widower and newspaper columnist raising his three daughters. He hasn't dated since his wife died four years ago. So when he visits his family for a week, they're eager for him to date. He goes out one day to buy a newspaper at a book and tackle shop (imagine that!) and cleverly flirts with a woman. One thing leads to another and they end up getting coffee. They sit for hours, with him doing most of the talking. He basically falls in love with her right then, only for her to reveal that she's dating someone. He returns dejectedly back to the house, only to be introduced to this same woman -- as his brother's new girlfriend. Talk about awkward (turkey). His brother falls madly for this woman, while Dan silently stews in sadness for his brother's girlfriend. The woman and Dan have many more awkward moments. She leaves her boyfriend, but then calls Dan. They meet at a bowling alley, kiss, and then are discovered by his family. He gets punched by Dane Cook, then his driver's license is suspended, and he botches an interview that will determine if he gets syndicated. She leaves again, but Dan's daughters convince him to pursue her, they meet again, and then credits roll.

It sounds corny, but again, I liked it because I could identify with Carell's character. First, he's a newspaper columnist who gives out family/relationship advice. That would be an almost perfect job -- only having to deal with people via mail and answering their questions in a newspaper for all to read. He gets to utilize writing AND counseling skills -- my two areas of study. The biggest thing I liked was the coincidence of meeting/loving this woman that his brother is dating. What are the odds that the SAME woman Dan met was ALSO his brother's new girlfriend?! I've had situations where I've talked/spent time with a girl, only for me to recognize that she's either taken/married/dating a friend, etc after sharing my witticisms and sarcasm in order to woe her. I've had some random guy date two girls I started talking to on two separate occasions! Again, what are the odds?! It's funny, yet pathetic. But mostly funny. Yep, that's my dating life in a nutshell.

This unbelievable luck that Dan has is what makes the movie the most funny. It's not a typical blatantly comedic Carell movie, but it's hilarious at certain points (the pig-nosed Ruthie song, shower advice scene, the stretches after salsa aerobics class, salsa aerobics class, etc). Go see it.