Friday 22 February 2008

Dan in Real Life


Last night, reeling with exhaustion, I met a friend and we went to see Dan in Real Life, starring Juliette Binoche and Steve Carell amongst others.

As a piece of lowbrow entertainment it was great. Highly implausible plot but with good characters and set on a weekend family get together – and as most of us know, all kinds of crazy things happen when you let loose an entire family including children, grandchildren, a whole load of brothers and their wives and girlfriends.

When my mother’s tired or depressed she always wants to read books “with large print and a happy ending”. This was the filmic version of that but with some very real scenarios of family difficulties.

There are interesting parallels between the widowed father trying to cope with his eldest teenage daughter discovering Lurve (ie sex) for the first time, and him grappling with Lurve (not yet sex) for the first time since his wife died.

A good piece of escapism like a few glasses of plonk. Slips down easily, lifts your mood and no hangover afterwards.

18 comments:

Cornish Dreamer said...

Sounds like a good movie FP. It's the same reason why I enjoyed watching Ratatouille (definately a movie I'd recommend!).

Flowerpot said...

RT - right I'll make a note of that one!

Akelamalu said...

I look our for that one it sounds like easy viewing. :)

the rotten correspondent said...

I love movies like that. Sign me up for escapism.

Anonymous said...

Good for the soul. Takes you away from everyday living.

Crystal xx

Ellee Seymour said...

I could have done with that after my very hectic week.

Irene said...

Sometimes that is all the movie you need and in the case of your Mom, that is all the book you need. I am reading thrillers right now and I find them a pleasant departure from the usual "literature" that I read. Very pleasant to spend an evening with a book like that. Candy and cookies for the brain, lovely!

Elaine Denning said...

I haven't watched a movie in ages. I'll keep an eye out for this one...it sounds great, and easy on the brain!

Unknown said...

Sounds like just what i need right now :-)

Flowerpot said...

Ak - very easy - and some poignant moments as well.

RC - me too!

Crystal - I think we all need that from time to time.

Flowerpot said...

ellee - yes perhaps you can see it this weekend?

sweet irene - a friend of mine reads thrillers for escapism, too, and loves them. Mind you, she was a lawyer!

Flowerpot said...

MissU - yes get it out on DVD or something - that and a few glasses of wine and you're set up for the evening.

Liz - I should think so!

Philipa said...

I really like your film reviews fp.

Little Wing said...

Still smiling at 'Lurve'....heehee

Flowerpot said...

Philipa - glad I've done something useful today! Many thanks for that.

Flowerpot said...

little wing - well you know what teenage lurve is like!

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

I know the feeling. There are a few movies I save for just such a purpose.

Flowerpot said...

wakeup - yes I have a stash of those too!