The perfect showcase for Carell, who solidifies his Everyman appeal with this performance.
Now, why do I say that? Well, because this family can be a bit too precious at times. I mean, group crossword challenges according to gender is one thing, but Kennedy-style touch football and an Uncle Tom's Cabin sort of talent show that seems just as interruptive as the one in "The King and I" keep this film from inching up into the great category. But Carell and the rest of the cast are a pleasure to watch, and the Rhode Island scenery is enough to make you want to re-locate.
Video:
The 1080p picture looks very good, presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio that stretches to fill out the entire 16x9 monitor. Colors seem natural and the level of detail is excellent. While the black levels are strong, they're not enough to pop figures out to give the film a full sense of 3-dimensionality. That said, it's a great-looking transfer.
Audio:
Most of the film is dialogue-oriented, with background music so much in the background that it's not really a factor, and rear-speaker effects only occasionally kicking in. This was clearly a director's decision, and I'd have to say that it's in keeping with the quiet but wise tone of the film. The featured soundtrack is an English PCM 5.1 uncompressed audio (48kHz/24-bit), with additional options in English and French Dolby Digital 5.1 and Spanish 2.0. Subtitles are in English SDH, French, and Spanish. You won't find a rocking bass here, or much in the way of sound dynamics, but as I said, I think the soundtrack feels natural.
Extras:
Hedges gives us quite the entertaining and informative commentary track, and what makes it personal is his willingness to intermingle stories of his own experience with a single parent with decisions he had to make about casting and filming. It's an above-average commentary. The rest of the cast (Carell included) get the chance to talk about the film in "Just Like Family: The Making of DAN IN REAL LIFE," which is equally entertaining. You have to be more of a music devotee to appreciate "Handmade Music: Scoring Dan in Real Life," but for those who are, this short feature is also well done. Rounding out the extras are 11 deleted/extended scenes with or without commentary, some of which seem to have been good enough to have been left in the film, and a very brief blooper reel that's pretty standard.
Bottom Line:
Romantic and situation comedies can be so formulaic that you have to admire one that comes along with a suitcase full of honesty instead of the usual genre baggage. "Dan in Real Life" is the perfect showcase for Carell, who solidifies his Everyman appeal with this performance.
Video:
The 1080p picture looks very good, presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio that stretches to fill out the entire 16x9 monitor. Colors seem natural and the level of detail is excellent. While the black levels are strong, they're not enough to pop figures out to give the film a full sense of 3-dimensionality. That said, it's a great-looking transfer.
Audio:
Most of the film is dialogue-oriented, with background music so much in the background that it's not really a factor, and rear-speaker effects only occasionally kicking in. This was clearly a director's decision, and I'd have to say that it's in keeping with the quiet but wise tone of the film. The featured soundtrack is an English PCM 5.1 uncompressed audio (48kHz/24-bit), with additional options in English and French Dolby Digital 5.1 and Spanish 2.0. Subtitles are in English SDH, French, and Spanish. You won't find a rocking bass here, or much in the way of sound dynamics, but as I said, I think the soundtrack feels natural.
Extras:
Hedges gives us quite the entertaining and informative commentary track, and what makes it personal is his willingness to intermingle stories of his own experience with a single parent with decisions he had to make about casting and filming. It's an above-average commentary. The rest of the cast (Carell included) get the chance to talk about the film in "Just Like Family: The Making of DAN IN REAL LIFE," which is equally entertaining. You have to be more of a music devotee to appreciate "Handmade Music: Scoring Dan in Real Life," but for those who are, this short feature is also well done. Rounding out the extras are 11 deleted/extended scenes with or without commentary, some of which seem to have been good enough to have been left in the film, and a very brief blooper reel that's pretty standard.
Bottom Line:
Romantic and situation comedies can be so formulaic that you have to admire one that comes along with a suitcase full of honesty instead of the usual genre baggage. "Dan in Real Life" is the perfect showcase for Carell, who solidifies his Everyman appeal with this performance.
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