Dan in Real LifeMovie Reviews

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Avg. Critic Score: 65 out of 100 Generally favorable reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
13 OK for kids 13+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 100
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    Dan in Real Life fires on so many circuits that at times it's actually shocking how good it is. Read full review

  • 91
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    A nimble and supple and moving comedy. Read full review

  • 88
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    Carell shows a whole new side to his talents. Read full review

  • 80
    The Hollywood Reporter | Kirk Honeycutt

    Provides Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche with comic roles that fit them like designer threads. Read full review

  • 80
    Variety | Joe Leydon

    Deftly interlaces heart and humor in a witty, warm and well-observed comedy about the unexpected and inconvenient blooming of romance at the weekend gathering of an extended family. Read full review

  • 80
    Los Angeles Times | Kenneth Turan

    Dan offers the most pleasing kind of unforced charm as it uses a terrific plot device to examine the conflicts between family and romance as well as the joy and pain of being in love. Read full review

  • 75
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    If the film has a flaw, and I'm afraid it does, it's the Sondre Lerche songs on the soundtrack. They are too foregrounded and literal, either commenting on the action or expounding on associated topics. In such a laid-back movie, they're in our face. Read full review

  • 70
    The New York Times | A.O. Scott

    Dan in Real Life is neither wildly farcical nor mockingly cruel, but rather, for the most part, winningly gentle and observant. Read full review

  • 50
    Washington Post | Ann Hornaday

    Filmgoers haven't seen a family this neurotically enmeshed since the last Diane Keaton movie. Read full review

  • 50
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    Dan in Real Life takes a pleasant premise and calls upon the talents of engaging actors and generally squanders both. Read full review

View more reviews for Dan in Real Life on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 13+ Love hurts in predictable rom com. OK for teens.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that although this Steve Carell comedy is fairly tame overall, it does include some violence, innuendo, and other iffy behavior (Dan and Marie share a shower, they lie to Dan's family, and Dan flirts with Marie inappropriately in front of his whole family). Dan also gets a black eye and a broken nose and is in a minor car accident. A mother's death is mentioned, and a teenager lies to her father about dating a boy (he sneaks up to make out with her on the family vacation). One character makes jokes about "self-love" and "unclogging the pipes," which may lead tweens to ask about sex and masturbation. Language includes one use of "f--k."
  • Families can talk about the difference between how love is portrayed in movies and how it is in real life. Why do you think so many movies pair depression and misery with love? Is it funny to watch romantic movies like that? Why or why not? How fun do you think it would be to actually be in a relationship like that? In this movie, Dan and Marie lie about their attraction and end up hurting a lot of people. Remind kids that anyone you have to hide or lie to your family about probably isn't the right person for you.
The good stuff
  • message true0 Positive messages: Dan gets several tickets and has his license revoked for poor driving. He flirts with his brother's girlfriend. Dan and Marie lie about their attraction. The family makes up a song making fun of how a woman looked in grade school. Cara uses an anti-gay slur in passing. Eventually, Dan learns to be honest and trustworthy.
What to watch for
  • violence false0 Violence: Some comic pratfalls, including Dan falling out a second-story window and getting hit in the face with a football. Mitch punches Dan. Dan backs into a police car.
  • sex false0 Sex: Cara makes out with her boyfriend. Marie undresses and gets in the shower with a (clothed) Dan (only her bare shoulders are visible). Clay makes veiled references to masturbation. Dan and Marie kiss.
  • language false3 Language: One use each of "damn" and "f--k." Cara says something is "so queer."
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Dan mentions the TV show Bonanza.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Some wine drinking by adults, but no one gets drunk.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

Looking for more reviews? Movies.com Critics Say:

Dave White

0.5

Dave White Profile See Dave White's Profile

… fake warmth oozes, dumbness prevails. Read full review See Dave White's on MOVIENAME on Movies.com

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