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Dan in Real Life: The Shooting Script
The official screenplay book tie-in to the delightful romantic comedy starring Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche, from Touchstone Pictures and Focus Features, directed by Peter Hedges ( Pieces of April ).
Something's happening to Dan. It's confusing. It's awkward. It's family.
It all begins with widowed father and family advice columnist Dan Burns (comic sensation Steve Carell), who is still reeling from the heartache of loss and takes refuge by trying to maintain order with his three rebellious young girls, while dodging anything unexpected or outside the box. But when Dan heads to Rhode Island, his miffed daughters in tow, for the annual Fall weekend thrown by the large and boisterous Burns family, everything changes. Soon after his arrival, he runs into an alluring woman named Marie (Academy Award® winner Juliette Binoche) in a bookshop. For the first time in a very, very long time, Dan experiences real, live sparks—only to have to douse them liberally when he discovers Marie is, in fact, the brand-new girlfriend his brother Mitch (stand-up comic star Dane Cook) is about to proudly introduce to the family.
As the weekend gets under way in the close quarters of a crowded house filled with quirky, prying relatives, Dan and Marie try to squelch and cover up their growing mutual attraction at every turn, leading to one comical situation after another. Yet, no matter how hard they try to do the very opposite, Dan and Marie can't help but fall in love. Now Dan is about to realize that no matter how wise safety might seem, when it comes to real life, he'sgoing to have to break all the rules.
In addition to the script, this Newmarket Shooting Script® book includes a foreword by Pierce Gardner, an introduction and scene notes by Peter Hedges, a color photo section, and complete cast and crew credits.
Something's happening to Dan. It's confusing. It's awkward. It's family.
It all begins with widowed father and family advice columnist Dan Burns (comic sensation Steve Carell), who is still reeling from the heartache of loss and takes refuge by trying to maintain order with his three rebellious young girls, while dodging anything unexpected or outside the box. But when Dan heads to Rhode Island, his miffed daughters in tow, for the annual Fall weekend thrown by the large and boisterous Burns family, everything changes. Soon after his arrival, he runs into an alluring woman named Marie (Academy Award® winner Juliette Binoche) in a bookshop. For the first time in a very, very long time, Dan experiences real, live sparks—only to have to douse them liberally when he discovers Marie is, in fact, the brand-new girlfriend his brother Mitch (stand-up comic star Dane Cook) is about to proudly introduce to the family.
As the weekend gets under way in the close quarters of a crowded house filled with quirky, prying relatives, Dan and Marie try to squelch and cover up their growing mutual attraction at every turn, leading to one comical situation after another. Yet, no matter how hard they try to do the very opposite, Dan and Marie can't help but fall in love. Now Dan is about to realize that no matter how wise safety might seem, when it comes to real life, he'sgoing to have to break all the rules.
In addition to the script, this Newmarket Shooting Script® book includes a foreword by Pierce Gardner, an introduction and scene notes by Peter Hedges, a color photo section, and complete cast and crew credits.
- GenresFilm
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 3, 2025
When driving to Christmas dinner with my dad & sister, I jokingly said that I would love to own a script of this movie one day. Come to find out, there was a $7 copy available on Amazon, so of course I ordered it immediately. I got it today and read, tabbed, and annotated the whole thing in 2 hours. I hope rating a script as 5 stars is fair, because Dan in Real Life deserves no less :)
So many witty lines, beautiful echoes, the characters are my second family…I’ve watched this movie at least once a year for the last 9 years and it feels like it’s grown up with me. There are so many adult themes, but it is still appropriate for children. I can’t wait to read the script while I watch the movie next fall.
So many witty lines, beautiful echoes, the characters are my second family…I’ve watched this movie at least once a year for the last 9 years and it feels like it’s grown up with me. There are so many adult themes, but it is still appropriate for children. I can’t wait to read the script while I watch the movie next fall.
January 18, 2021
Nice script! Nothing spectacular, but sweet. The words definitely faired better off the page in the hands of a capable cast.
January 11, 2024
Very well written script.
Sometimes when we manage to be honest with ourselves, we are forced to be dishonest with others.
Favorite parts: "You are a Murderer of Love" and of course: "Plan to be surprised."
The Q&A at the end of the book are delightful for all of us who one day dream of being part of the film industry. Discovering the experiences behind any cinematographic process can help us understand how different it can be from how we imagine it.
Sometimes when we manage to be honest with ourselves, we are forced to be dishonest with others.
Favorite parts: "You are a Murderer of Love" and of course: "Plan to be surprised."
The Q&A at the end of the book are delightful for all of us who one day dream of being part of the film industry. Discovering the experiences behind any cinematographic process can help us understand how different it can be from how we imagine it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews