The Rom Com Catalog

Tag: Alison Pill

  • ‘Dan in Real Life’ (2007) Review

    ‘Dan in Real Life’ (2007) Review

    Widower Dan Burns (Steve Carell) is an advice columnist raising three girls alone. When they travel to Rhode Island for his family’s annual get-together, he meets a charming woman named Marie (Juliette Binoche) at a local bookstore. The two have a connection, but Marie informs Dan that she has a boyfriend.

    Still, Dan cannot help but think about the spark between them… until Dan’s younger brother Mitch (Dane Cook) introduces Marie to his family as his girlfriend. Things get a bit complicated as Dan tries to quell his attraction to Marie while also dealing with his daughters growing up and becoming women of their own.

    Dan in Real Life is a cozy, romantic movie. I love movies about family dynamics, especially when it’s a family gathering or reunion, and everyone is forced to confront their underlying issues. Dan’s family is not dysfunctional but pretty supportive of each other. This makes it even more difficult for Dan, as he seems to be the only person in the room falling apart.

    Carell and Binoche have plenty of chemistry on screen together, but Carell seems to have chemistry with just about everyone in this movie. I am not a fan of Dane Cook; he felt miscast as Dan’s brother Mitch. Nothing about him made me believe a woman as cultured and kind as Marie would fall for him. It doesn’t leave the ending in doubt whatsoever, and the movie throws in the gorgeous Emily Blunt as a blind date for Dan to make sure Mitch doesn’t end up alone.

    Dan in Real Life is a sentimental, romantic dramedy highlighting Carell’s acting strengths. Yes, he’s best known for his comedic roles, but he has range, and I think this movie was one of his first roles to show it.

    Also, it’s tough to make a bad movie when it also stars Dianne Wiest and the late, great John Mahoney. So yes, the performances in this movie alone make it worth a watch, even if it doesn’t break any new ground in its story. I would say it’s well-written, well-directed, and well-acted, but Dan in Real Life is also somewhat forgettable.

    Still, I recommend watching this movie on a rainy autumn day when you have nowhere to be and feel like being charmed for an hour and a half.

    Watched: 09/29/2022
    Notable Song: Let My Love Open the Door by Steve Carell and Dane Cook

    Rating:

  • ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ (2010) Review

    ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ (2010) Review

    Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Synopsis: Scott Pilgrim must defeat his new girlfriend’s seven evil exes in order to win her heart.

    After spotting fuschia-haired Ramona Flowers at the library, Scott Pilgrim is convinced she’s his dream girl. There are only two problems. One, he’s already dating a high school senior, and two, Ramona comes with a bit of baggage… namely, her seven evil exes whom Scott must fight and defeat in order to keep dating her.

    Despite having seen plenty of images and gifs of this movie online, this was my first time watching Scott Pilgrim. It was easy to see why this movie has such a cult following. I loved Edgar Wright’s direction and brisk pacing. I had no idea just how many up-and-coming stars were in this film, either. I was impressed by the visual effects, and they added a much-needed punch (kapow!) to a pretty simple story.

    Michael Cera does what Michael Cera does best as a lovelorn slacker who tries to win the heart of the quintessential Cool Girl by being equal parts sweet and awkward. Scott’s not exactly leading man material, nor is Cera, so the casting worked out perfectly. Scott is human and flawed and can, at times, be a bit of a dick. He shouldn’t be dating a seventeen-year-old girl either, but you do feel for her when she starts to sense that Scott’s interest wanes after he’s laid eyes on Ramona.

    Mary Elizabeth Winstead is alluring and vulnerable as Ramona, making it easy to see why someone may want to punch a hole in the moon for her. The standout for me was Kieran Culkin as Scott’s roommate Wallace. He’s a gossip with the film’s best one-liner, and Wallace also serves as Scott’s conscience, pointing out the obvious, giving Scott advice he needs to hear, whether he follows through with it or not.

    I especially enjoyed the fight scenes between Scott and Ramona’s evil exes. The exes were all ridiculous in their own right, but they were still a lot of fun. Chris Evans and Brandon Routh were especially funny as a growly-voiced action star and a dimwitted vegan. I couldn’t find any actual weak link in the cast. They all seemed to be having a blast making the film, and every actor took full advantage of their screen time, even if it only seemed to be a few minutes.

    While I did enjoy watching Ramona and Scott’s relationship blossom, I was more invested in the style of the movie than the actual plot. I wanted to see how the movie would approach the next evil ex-fight or what pop culture sequences would transition us into the next scene. Honestly, Scott Pilgrim might have felt bland and flat without the video game, music video, and comic book visuals. There is not a lot going on underneath the dazzling effects. It has a lot of humor, but I think it could have been used more in terms of the story.

    At the end of the day, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a delightfully creative movie with a kinetic energy that kept me invested until the credits.

    Watched: 08/29/2020
    Notable Song: Ramona by Beck

    Rating: