MovieChat Forums > Dan in Real Life (2007) Discussion > Lamest movie ever and Binoche was so ann...

Lamest movie ever and Binoche was so annoying...

posted 14 years ago by nike-33
42 replies | jump to latest

Here what I think happened with this movie...The producer gathered the writers and ORDERED them to write a script with all the possible cliches ever...and they did it! I think a 15 year old kid could write it. This movie is a perfect example of how a bunch of good actors isn't enough if the script is SO bad.
There is one exception though...Binoche! She's trying so hard to be funny, cute and smart and the result is to be so so so so annoying. All the smiling, the giggling and the ''cute'' looks...I wanted to scream ''Shut the f@@@ up!''
How can you possibly choose her over Emily Blunt? How? How is that possible?

[–] DragonKingXBR 14 years ago

I couldn't agree with you more, Nike. I didn't enjoy anything about this movie. It sucked pretty badly. To be frank, "Real life" would have had Dan finish the fight his brother started and just go crazy, possibly ending up in a mental hospital or jail.

[–] KitLatura 14 years ago

I agree, I don't like this movie at all

Happiness only real when shared - Christopher McCandless - Into the Wild

[–] Henny1234 14 years ago

I agree that the movie is loaded with cliches, but I thought Binoche was one of the more interesting things about it. I just thought she was trying to inject some life into a character who basically wasn't written anywhere close to being a realistic human being. She's like my favorite actress ever, though, so maybe I'm cutting her too much slack. I will admit this wasn't her finest hour.

My biggest point of hatred was the family in general. They were all too peppy and happy and loving for my tastes (seriously, what kind of family all exercises together?). They should have given them at least one alcoholic or clinically depressed member to mellow things out a bit.

As it was, though, the film was basically one big sitcom. I generally like Steve Carell (on the Office and back when he was on the Daily Show), but he certainly has awful taste in picking film roles.

[–] jejozi 11 years ago

Mmmmm, one of the family members WAS depressed??? And the older daughters weren't a barrel of monkeys, either.

This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.

[–] JaffaCakes 10 years ago

Juliet Binoche was well suited for this movie. Everything else was wrong. It would have been funnier and more believable as a Frenchie movie.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] brittannie19 7 years ago

Yes!!! regarding the family. They were so over-the-top white that they scared me and I'm white. The talent show night is what got to me the most. Who does that? Do families really subject themselves to that? Why??

~The internet? Is that thing still around?~

[–] tdoa 14 years ago

Entire film was irritating and annoying beyond words. Worst mismatched "threesome" ever in film history. No chemistry whatsoever between any of the so called lovers. Ms. Binoche obviously did not know what the hell she was doing in this mess and tried to wring a performance out of irritating mannerisms. She was obviously slumming if she is playing love interest for male pig Dane Cook and should never have consented to be in this movie. Love her work outside of Hollywood, which is the case with all foreign actors, who just don't "translate" to Hollywood movies (another perfect example is Penelope Cruz!).

[–] gb901 14 years ago

No way near as good as Little Miss Sunshine. It was mawkish and cliche ridden!

[–] Osmell37 14 years ago

This movie made me sick to my stomach! The family is ridiculous, I hated Dane Cook, and I hated the mom with her stupid benevolent smile and her cliche motherly actions. And the ending, gimme a break. I love how they show Dane Cook going off on a date with the ol' pig-faced doctor. Like okay he's a simpleton and it doesn't really matter that Dan stole his girlfriend and so everything is okay, what Dan did WASN"T morally corrupt and now you can all walk out of the theater feeling warm inside, and peace on Earth. SHUT UP!!

Alright, thanx for reading.

All's I gots is time. Got no meaning, just a rhyme.

[–] hppg 14 years ago

I love your subject line, sums it up.

Though I've never liked that actress I didn't find her too bad, it was just her character that annoyed me. What a bitch!

[–] glenn_sw20 13 years ago

I can't believe how many scenes there were with the family having soooooo much fun. :/ The talent show in particular was so corny. People do not act like that. The movie was not very realistic and yeah, not very good. But I still love Steve Carell.

[–] hppg 13 years ago

Haha it's funny you should reply now, this was on last night, I turned it off and Mum said "I was watching that!" and I shouted "Noooooooo it's the worst film ever, I had to turn it off!"

I dunno, I think some families do have that much fun and are that corny.

[–] glenn_sw20 13 years ago

Haha, you must live in Australia, right? Yeah, it was on channel Eleven last Saturday.

[–] hppg 13 years ago

I am in Australia yeah! I didn't even know we had a channel 11 though...man I'm so out of the loop.

[–] glenn_sw20 13 years ago

Yeah, it's a digital channel from Channel 10, like Go! is from Channel Nine. They show some good movies on the digital channels sometimes (although obviously this movie wasn't one, lol).

[–] hppg 13 years ago

Oh, right. Yeah I remember getting excited when they added new free channels and then I promptly stopped watching TV for some reason. :-/

[–] mark-1478 13 years ago

It is an incredible irritating movie (ok there are some fairly funny lines/moments)
but apart from Dan they are all so smug and the Binoche character was very annoying.
I hated the way they all thought she was so perfect, to me she was very plain.

[–] docholliday725 13 years ago

You may have missed the point. Dan's daughters were especially attracted to Marie. It's plain to see they miss their mother and Dan is failing at trying to play the role of being both parents. The family get together has had a cloud hang over it since Dan's wife died. Marie is a breath of fresh air not only to the children, but to the rest of the family too. She is an instant hit by helping to win the crossword puzzle competition. Apparently the males have dominated this game because of Dan or at least it's inferred. She's a hit with Dan's older daughter because she has done a lot of traveling. She doesn't mind answering questions and is willing to listen. The scene with Dan's youngest daughter, Lily, is priceless. I hardly find any of this annoying. She does have faults. In a way she is just as quilty as Dan for not coming clean about her feelings toward him to Mitch and the family as well. However, she complies because Dan can't face hurting his brother. Plus she is in an awkward situation, being duped by Mitch and not knowing she was going to meet the entire family.

I did not find the movie lame or any of the actors annoying. I wish some of the deleted scenes from the DVD would have been included in the final cut. It may have helped to further explain different parts of the movie. For instance their is a scene where Lily is trying to get Dan interested in one of her teachers.

All this being said, everyone is certainly entitled to their opinions. I hope you don't mind me adding my two cents.

[–] lamont-hard 12 years ago

You missed one very important fact. If she makes out with her boyfriends brother just how long don you think a woman would last with a boyfriend/husband with three kids. It would be not long before some guy comes along and gives her a better choice and she would have more freedom to be her self not 24 hour mom and wife/girlfriend... In other words she lacked good moral judgement. and to the brother i don't blame him at least he was not left out of the equation and i think got the better gal.

[–] docholliday725 12 years ago

Why do you think Marie left Mitch after Dan sung in the talent contest? Was that a lack of moral judgement? She realized she was living a lie. In the beginning she even wants to tell the family, but Dan stops her because he doesn't want to hurt his brother.

Try to remember the movie only takes place over a long weekend. A lot was going on. Dan was very conflicted as was Marie. Everyone thought Dan was perfect or "the expert." They thought the same of Marie when they first met her too. In the end the truth wins and the image of both of them as being perfect melts but for good reason.

"Dan in Real Life" was not meant to be "The Brady Bunch.

In the end each of them found their soul mates or at least that's what we're led to believe. Who knows Mitch may have taken off with another airline stewardess or a massage therapist at the drop of a hat. Hehehehe..

[–] Kohox 12 years ago

Wow. At least some of these criticisms have to be sarcastic! These are some very silly gripes.

By the way, it looks like Mitch went long term with Pig face Draper as you see in the wedding scenes.

[–] MarthaJonesSmith 12 years ago

glenn sw20 said:

I can't believe how many scenes there were with the family having soooooo much fun. :/ The talent show in particular was so corny. People do not act like that. The movie was not very realistic and yeah, not very good. But I still love Steve Carell.

Wow, I come from a very large family, so much bigger than the one in 'Dan In Real Life',... and we DO act like that! We have corny times, talent shows, family get togethers which have NO drinking, game times and SOOOO much fun. So, yes...some 'real' people do act like that! Everytime I meet peaople that can't imagine having a good time, such as that which is protrayed in the movie, I really feel bad for them...because it takes very loving people to have a good wholesome, loving time together....and more people should learn from lessons like that, not scoff at it. Try it....it takes a lot of dignity to do what is right and I just hope that more families can start to build each other up with goodness, wholesome fun times and dignity.

LIZ 10:“I’m the bloody Queen, mate. Basically, I rule.”Dr.Who

[–] chilone 11 years ago

Kudos on the no drinking! I've seen SOOOOOO many great times, family and other ruined (and I mean RUINED!!) by drinking!!

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] jejozi 11 years ago

Yes, there are families that act like that. You, obviously, didn't have the good fortune to be brought up in one of them.

This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.

[–] chriscaulder 12 years ago

I wholeheartedly disagree with every post in this thread. Do none of you have hearts? I did not see many cliches in this film. And I am a film buff and filmmaker. I thought this film was fresh and sincere.

[–] docholliday725 12 years ago

I hope you didn't disagree with my posts in the thread. I agree with you. I think this is a great film and I had no problem with the casting.

[–] mball1297 12 years ago

I agree with beautysconfusion. I am surprised to see so much vitriol towards this movie. I loved it, and I don't see the cliches people are talking about. It may not be the most realistic movie ever, but it's not completely unrealistic, and the characters are all fun.

[–] Otto-Phocus 12 years ago

Maybe some people don't want to make movies full of drunken morons?
Actually, I can't understand any of these people who don't see Juliette Binoche as attractive...what's wrong with you people, she's gorgeous!

[–] deadbunny28 12 years ago

why does your family breed...

[–] 12 years ago

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