Wednesday, May 12, 2010

8 Reasons Why I Like Dan in Real Life

The movie has been around for years. But it’s one of those I watch whenever it’s on TV. It’s one that always makes me smile. I’m hoping even if you haven’t seen Dan in Real Life you’ll be able to appreciate my I 8 Wednesday list of reasons why I enjoy it.

« Dan, a writer, is raising three girls all in the delicate teenage years. It gives me a humorous glimpse of what a house with three girls could look like. I was one of four girls, so it also brings back memories.

« Dan’s love story begins in a book store. Really…does it get any better than that?

« Dan, played by Steve Carell, is pulled over for the umpteenth time. He mockingly looks up at the officer upon getting an umpteenth ticket and says, “Put it on my tab.” My husband and I have fun tossing that phrase around a lot.

« I’m fascinated by any family that gets up early, donned in sweatshirts and sweatpants and other such workout clothes, to bust a move out on the front lawn aerobics-style. Purely fascinated.

« The youngest daughter creates a collage of memories with pictures of her mother on it and is desperate to show her father what she made. I was queen of collage-making when I was the same age as the daughter. I connected with her.

« I like how the female lead, Juliette Binoche isn’t drop-dead gorgeous, but is uniquely attractive. It makes the movie even more real for me.

« There’s one scene where Dan helps his brother serenade his girlfriend. The two clearly aren’t meant for one another. Dan has already fallen for the girlfriend, as has she for him. The family puts on a show (so much reminds me of the kind of whackadoo things my family used to do) and Dan’s feelings leak out as he assists, then takes over, singing, “Let My Love Open the Door.” The scene gets me every time.

« The summer cottage is huge, but somehow every year Dan gets stuck in the laundry room and for some odd reason every night someone is insistent upon washing their sneakers. I can’t explain. It just makes me laugh.


Do you have a comfort movie?

*photos by flickr

31 comments:

  1. LOVE that movie! It's one of my all time favorites. I saw it twice in the theaters. Love Steve Carrell and just love the whole story line. :)

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  2. I've never seen DIRL, but it sounds really good, and now I'm going to rent it. We have a couple of go-to comfort movies ... You've Got Mail, Serendipity, Rocky. And yes, every year, White Christmas :)

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  3. I've never even heard of that movie but I do love Steve carell so I need to rent it!
    My comfort movies are "While you were Sleeping" "You've got Mail" and "Groundhog's day". They're just light, feel-good movies I can watch over and over again. :)

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  4. PS. So funy you're talking about comfort movies today. I'm going to be talking about "happy place" books on Friday. :)

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  5. i love this movie so much i own it. my favorite scene is the one in the shower. my daughter and i giggle over Juliette B. trying to not laugh.

    this is one of my comfort movies. the others are Ever After, You've Got Mail, Kate and Leopold, and Open Range.

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  6. How have I never seen this movie? It sounds like a favorite, and I hope our rental place has it.

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  7. I haven't seen this yet. I'll have to watch for it. The three movies I watch whenever I can are: When Harry Met Sally, Sweet Home Alabama and Pride and Prejudice. Is it a big surprise I write romance? :)

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  8. You've added a new one for me, dear one.

    Comfort movie...hmmm. Not really.

    I do love to do yoga and watch "Law and Order."
    Oddly, I love the moral messages and the show makes me feel safe and learn techniques for good dialogue while I do my needed exercises.

    Blessings!
    Patti
    www.pattilacy.com/blog

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  9. I love writer movies, but I'd forgotten about this one. Thanks for the reminder, Wendy. I just added it to my Netflix queue so I can enjoy it again.

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  10. Dan in real life is the whole reason we have a family talent show at our family reunions. Love that movie.

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  11. This has been on my to watch list! It's great to know it's a good one. My comfort movie? Sadly I have none. My DD subjects me to whatever she's watching.

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  12. I definitely need to see this film!

    My comfort movies are

    El Dorado (John Wayne)
    Open Range
    and
    Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.

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  13. LOVE.THIS.MOVIE. My hubs and I kick "put it on my tab" around too! I love when the daughter screams at him, "You are a murderer of love!" and when the boys are throwing the rocks in the water and he runs up and throws a boulder! SO FUNNY!

    My comfort movie is You've Got Mail. I just adore Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan...and again, a bookstore is involved! :P

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  14. Second Hand Lions and Finding Forrester (fantastic writer movie)

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  15. Great movie! Your reasons for loving it are the same as mine.

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  16. Just for the record, I loved that movie too, Wendy!

    Comfort movie? Even though it's not as clean as Dan, I really find Waiting for Guffman hilarious. Or give me any BBC/A&E movie based on a British classic and I'm comforted. Or, if I'm feeling more contemporary and in a dancing mood, give me Bride and Prejudice.

    Sorry -- kind of went off there! It's hard to pick just one.

    Amy

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  17. I have never seen Dan. For me, it could really be any movie that somehow I've connected with that can suck me back in on a cold Saturday afternoon :O)

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  18. You know, I saw that movie and thought it was just ok. Seeing it through your eyes made me want to watch it again! Thanks for sharing your insights.

    My comfort movie is rather odd, at least to most people. It's Star Wars. The original trilogy. I grew up with it. It brings back so many memories. It makes me smile. And I can quote the entire thing.

    Happy Wednesday,
    Jen

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  19. I've not seen that move. My confort movie would have to be "The Princess Bride". It's frivolous and fun and I love it.

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  20. I like that term comfort movie. :-)
    As a matter of fact, I do and I'm fixing to post all sorts of great lessons I'm learning from it. ;-)
    It's French Kiss, btw. LOVE that movie SO much!

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  21. I love Dan in Real Life! I need to get that one on DVD soon. I have several comfort movies, such as Under the Tuscan Sun, Love Actually, and then most definitely You've Got Mail. That is probably my all-time favorite comfort movie. :)

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  22. I love that movie. I finally saw it for the first time last year. I love the aerobics on the lawn. It actually makes exercise look like fun. And the serenade scene--makes me smile. I'm going to have to watch that movie again :)

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  23. I just discovered this gem a couple of months ago and loved it. I wish that I had discovered it sooner!

    Comfort movies: I adore Lars and the Real Girl. It's quirky and heartwarming and I cannot help but smile the entire time I'm watching it.

    And I adore 13 Going on 30, 50 First Dates, Never Been Kissed, Ever After (huh, guess I like Drew Barrymore), and Stardust.

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  24. Sorry I missed this movie--it sounds like fun! I love old, old, old movies. Yes, the black and white kind. Some of my faves are the Thin Man series with William Powell and Myra Loy.

    Happy Thursday!

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  25. I had forgotten about this movie. But yes, that is a great show. I also found I connected with it on so many levels. And I'd love to meet someone in a book store! My comfort movies depends on my mood. If I need to laugh, I like Hitch, or if I need to look at a hot guy persuing the beautiful girl, I'll watch How to Loose A Guy in Ten Days. :)

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  26. I've seen this movie and loved it too:) I tend to not ever watch movies twice but have Sleepless in Seattle several times. I think that's the one where they meet at the Empire state building and I love love it!

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  27. I.love.this.movie. In fact, you've made me want to watch it again! Might do so this evening. :)

    The Family Stone is one for me. I haven't been able to watch it lately, but will before too long. It touches me.

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  28. Wendy:
    I'm sorry, I've never heard of Dan In Real Life. I like Sleepless in Seattle. Meg Ryan goes to great lengths to find this widower she heard about on the radio call in show she listened to on Christmas Eve. I love the old songs that play in the beginning. And I love the references to "An Affair to Remember".

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  29. When he slips from the roof, after sneaking out of the shower fully clothed...oh my gosh. I laugh SO hard no matter how many times I have seen it ~ classic.

    For me, it is stupid, girly flicks like Never Been Kissed or He's Just Not That Into You. They make me smile, help me to cry and just make the world seem right :)

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  30. Dan In Real Life is one of my all time favorites! Definitely among my top ten picks! Makes me want to fall in love all over again ... with my husband! : ) Nice to meet you, btw! Love your blog!

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  31. Oh I so loved this movie. I only saw it once, in the theater, and I wept and cried through the whole thing. I think I may need to buy it now that I've read your highlights again. You're right...it's the perfect comfort movie.

    I like "When Harry Met Sally" and "Love, Actually" as other comfort movies, too. I know, I'm cliche, what can I say?

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