Review of Dan in Real Life (2007) by Sam N — 25 Jun 2012

It's a well made movie, I have to give this at least this credit. Three stars for their efforts. But this movie bored me to hell, 'Dan in Real Life', seriously dude, I expected something fun and thrilling out of this, not some middle aged ugly couple trying to be cute and goofy. I just kept rolling my eyes up everytime I saw these tactless human beings in a family drama. So, Dan in his general life is an idealist and a control freak parent whose moral ideas are reflected and well received through his columns. However revered he might be by the society who is inspired by his ideas, he still remains a laughing stock at his parent's home for being unassertive and gutless and a despicable parent at his own home for being an idealist to a point where he stops to care about hurting or embarrassing his daughters' feelings in person and in public. But in this movie, we learn that this Dan of ours in real life can break a rule or two without any moral leash tied around his neck and thus can chase his brother's girlfriend till he finally gets her and cause a minor accident that causes him to surrender his license. How very interesting!

Now let's take a break here. Other than the sheer banality of the idea, one thing that runs around in a vicious circle is, Dan has been shown much the same in his general life as in his real one. This Dan doesn't "take a back step at" blowing off/grounding his daughters when they ask for his time, or for permission to drive or to date or not visiting the grandparent's because he believes in the right thing to do as a parent. He always sneaks upon one his daughters and doesn't spare a dime while chasing the guy, she is so fond of, out of her life. He perpetually gets yelled at by his adolescent kids for being so intrusive. He is gutless at his own home and is constantly being grounded himself by his mother whom he can't control. Now in his real life, when he learns that this charming lady, whom he could connect with, is actually his brother's new girlfriend, he goes out of his way to win her back from his brother because he thinks his Casanova of a shallow brother is totally wrong for her while he and her could actually be soul mates. He doesn't here too, wait a minute, "take a back step at" blowing off his younger brother who is so fond of his new girlfriend, sneaking around behind his back and embarrassing him and everyone in the family by chasing and getting the girl. In the process, he still loses the girl, trust of his family and finally his dream job as usual because his actions never matched his confrontational modalities. He, even after learning and realizing everything, still didn't accede to his daughters' point of view unless they voiced something he already believed in like going after that girl again or when the whole enraged family didn't agree to buzz off during his supposed personal interview for the job and thus he was forced to confess that his inherently flawed morals hurt his own family! In the end he still remains gutless at his home at confrontational level, submissive to his mother, to his annoyed daughters and then to his brother too but action-wise an adamant immature sneaker who would do anything to satisfy his ideas. So, basically, filmmakers just fed you anything and you swallowed and burped it well!