blog.wddjr.com

Dan Burns (Steve Carell) is an advice columnist who is doing the best he can as the widower father of three girls. Each year the brood head out to Maine to meet up with the extended Burns clan at their parents’ cabin to have some family fun, ending with the closing of the cabin for the season. This year is a little different as Dan’s professional career could take a new step with potential syndication, his home life is taking a turn as his daughters are each having a crisis, and Dan has a chance encounter that could forever change his future, or at the very least, his present. After arriving at the gathering it becomes clear to the audience that Dan is the odd man out in this family. He is the awkward brother who gets to sleep in the “special room”. Everything about Dan is summed up when his mother (Dianne Wiest) approaches him and says: “You do so much for your girls, but what do you do for yourself?” It is a good question. Dan tries to be the best father he can to his girls, pining for his deceased wife, whom we learn little about. The question also comes at a turning point in the evolution of Dan. While the father/daughter conflict and Dan’s attempts to do the best he can offer a lot of flavor to the film, it is not what is at the core of the movie. What it is is a pleasant look into the life of a man who does so much for others that he neglects his own needs, and the impetus that pushes him towards finding a new balance between helping others and helping himself. Shortly after arriving at the cabin an incident with his girls puts Dan a bit on edge. His mother, in all her motherly wisdom, sends Dan out to get the papers, a trip that will force him to spend some time with himself (it is quite a drive to the nearest newstand). This is a fateful trip that will lead to his encounter with the enchanting Marie (French beauty Juliete Binoche). The two talk for a long time, realizing that they have much in common and that there could be a future there. Before they can get too far, Marie is called away. Dan returns home, floating on air after the encounter. Marie is revealed to be his brother Mitch’s (Dane Cook) girlfriend. Talk about awkward. This is the first woman to spark any life in him since the death of his wife, and he is held back by societal expectations due to her involvement with his brother. You can probably tell where this is going to go without even seeing the film. What makes this movie worthwhile are the performances and the way the characters interact with each other, even if it does play the edges of believability. Steve Carell is perfect in the lead role. He doesn’t over act as you might expect him to do in this role which is probably more realistic and serious than any of his others. I think this shows a deeper side to his acting ability. Eventhough you are as pained by the angst he protrays when everything unravels, you are equally overjoyed that it actually had the predictable happy ending. Otherwise it would have been terribly disappointing. In the beginning, I questioned Marie cerebral ability as she appeared somewhat autistic or distant, but in the end it really did fit together. Dane Cook, who you either love or hate, was perfectly cast as the somewhat dimwitted always either in love or loving the one he is with. I think he actually has some acting ability if he would just not let his quick popularity go to his head. This movie is well worth the time.