Dan in Real Life, written and directed by Peter
Hedges, with Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, the other writer: Pierce Gardner
8 out of 10
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This
is a Look Through a Glass Brightly at this comedy, using a Positive Psychology
lens as much as possible
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We
have within Dealing With Adversity and Trauma, Humor, signature Strengths that
are part of the paraphernalia of
-
The
Science of Happiness
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Dan
Burns aka Dan in Real Life is played by Steve Carell, who gives a strong
performance reminding one of:
-
Foxcatcher,
Little Miss Sunshine and other
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Outstanding
roles that have been the work of a formidable actor
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Dan
is a widower and he has three daughters that he needs to take care of and it is
no easy task
-
I
have only one and find that overwhelming at times…what am I saying – at all
times, but then I am not Dan
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One
of the daughters, and not even the eldest, Jane, but Cara is in love- she says-
with a colleague
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I
thought Dan was correct in considering this feeling just an infatuation, but I
could be wrong and old fashioned
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The
plot centers on Dan meeting with Marie
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Marie
is played by the beautiful, talented and charming Juliette Binoche
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Alas,
the fact that when they meet they have what the French would call a “coup de
foudre” does not help
-
Not
for a good while anyway
-
Marie
and Dan meet in a library and they talk about books and they find that they are
not just attracted to each other
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There
is also an important meeting of minds and souls that have matching interests
and this is heaven
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One
would think
-
But
Marie is dating Mitch at the time when she has found Dan
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And
Mitch is…Dan’s brother
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There
follows a part of the film wherein comedy takes over, or maybe I should say
tragicomedy
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If
we look at it from Dan and Marie’s point of view, this is an impossible
situation, the worst case scenario…
-
Hero
and heroine want to be together, but he cannot cause his brother’s turmoil and
unhappiness
-
This
is where Character Strengths and virtues come into evidence, as identified by
Martin Seligman
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Both
the heroine and the hero show that they have:
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Integrity,
Persistence, Vitality, Bravery, Kindness, Appreciation of Excellence,
Gratitude, Hope…
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And
there is more:
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Humor,
Self- regulation, Prudence, Mercy, Fairness, Perspective, Love of Learning,
Open-mindedness
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Almost
All the Signature Strengths are at play!!
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This
is because we have here extraordinary people…well, fictional ones evidently,
that are near perfection
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Once
in a while they act in a silly manner
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Often
it is the circumstances- the matrix they have to work within presupposes a
sacrifice for the brother
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But
they love each other
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When
Dan comes to talk to the woman he loves, in the bathroom, as this is one of the
few places offering intimacy…
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One
of his daughters comes to talk to Marie, who is so much appreciated by the
whole family…up to a point…and then again
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I
wanted to talk to you…says the daughter
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All
right…
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But
you said you were going to take a shower
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Oh
yes…
And to keep
appearances, Marie undresses, enters naked in the shower, where Dan had been
already hiding…
Fully dressed,
but with a lot of water pouring down on him…
A lovely romantic
comedy
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