DAN IN REAL LIFE

As delightful a romantic comedy if ever there was one. Steve Carrell plays the title role in Dan in Real Life. Dan is a newspaper family advice columnist who is a widower raising three daughters. Very early in the film, the family packs for a trip to Nana's house for an annual gathering with his other siblings and their families. Dan has packed lunches for himself and his daughters, packed the clothes, put on the
grill cover, and loaded the car. Off they go.

Having daughters means Dan is on constant alert for boyfriends, especially for Cara who is in love with a particular boy and whom Dan feels is far too young for such deep feelings. The oldest daughter has just gotten her driver's license, so she's always asking to drive, which Dan refuses to let her do. The youngest daughter is precocious and wise beyond her years, which always takes Dan by surprise.

The lovely story is complicated when Dan meets an amazing woman at the bookstore near his parents' home and confides in his brothers about her. He is then totally surprised when she shows up and is his brother's girlfriend.

The twists and turns of complicated love play out from there, giving us a feeling that Dan, even though widowed for four years, may just give up on his second chance at true love.

There is a bit of innuendo, but nothing gravely bad in the 2007 movie, which is rated PG-13