A: Sure, if your real life consists of hitting on a chick in a bookstore, finding out she's unavailable because she's dating your brother, and then moping about it and acting like a prick for a few days. And oh, yes, of course you love that woman right away, and don't forget to have an emotional catharsis at some point before wrapping everything up neatly. Yep. Just like real life.
Q: You're saying Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche aren't a believable couple?
A: I have no problem with their pairing. What gets me is that Binoche starts out hooked up with Dane Cook. I mean, come on--Dane Cook and Juliette Binoche? The screenplay tries to explain this, but the viewers can't get over how wrong that seems. This makes it difficult to sympathize with Carrell as he pines over here during the big extended family getaway in which most of the film takes place. You keep saying, "Dude, those two can't possibly have anything in common. Just hang in there and live your life for a few days."
Q: This is from Peter Hedges, who also brought us "Pieces of April." Is the family in this as lovably wacky?
A: Let me tell you the weird thing about this family--the weird thing about this movie, really. Forget the Cook-Binoche thing, forget the Carrell moping thing, even though I just made a federal case out of them. Observe Dan's family as they vacation together in this great big beautiful place. They DO stuff together--parents, children, grandchildren all.
Q: Is that really Emily Blunt?
A: It sure is she in a small role as a lass from Dan's past, and once again she A) lights up the screen and energizes the movie while B) providing a different enough characterization that you find yourself wondering, "Is that really Emily Blunt?"
Q: Is this one more of a drama or a comedy?
A: Why does it have to be one or the other? It's a dramedy!
I think this aspires for moments of poignancy and insight into the human condition. If you can't tell by now, I don't think it achieves them. But you also have to remember that the film's humor is broad enough to feature a scene in which Carrell slips into the shower, fully clothed, to avoid being seen with Binoche, which means that Binoche somehow "has to" hop in there as well when someone comes in the bathroom because, you know, she can't just tell her to buzz off because she has to take a crap. (Does Juliette Binoche even do that? Maybe I needn't wonder; she's French and probably liberated about it.) All this so we get the contrived awkward moment of the two stars getting soaking wet together in the confined space. Oh, the hilarity!
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2 comments:
Dane Cook went from stand up comedian to starring in a ton of major movies... pretty impressive.
Oh, yes, I'll give him that, he has had plenty of shots, but I think it's because Hollywood types are hoping he'll lure his standup fanbase to the theaters. Hasn't happened yet, nor has he crossed over like other standups to become a big movie star.
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