(PG) Steve Carrell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook

Dan Burns (Steve Carrell) is a widower with three challenging daughters who writes a family advice column called Dan in Real Life. Of course, writing about living wisely is much easier than actually doing it.

Over the film’s credits, Dan and his daughters go to his family home for the weekend, which is full of Dan’s sisters and brothers and extended family. All his siblings seem happily married, so he’s feeling out of place, primarily because he isn’t ready to meet someone after the death of his wife.

Dan’s mood changes, however, when he has a chance encounter after being sent out one morning to get the paper and some “space”.

He is smitten by Marie (Juliette Binoche) a woman he meets in the village in the book store.

The pair spend the morning together talking over coffee and exchange phone numbers — with Dan resolving to give her a call.

This gets complicated when Dan returns home to discover that Marie has just begun dating his younger brother (Dane Cook).

This is not revealing anything that you wouldn’t have picked up from the trailer.

What really rings true about this movie is how it explores notions of family without being overly sentimental —offering a really sincere, positive portrayal of family life.

Dan’s parents, gamely portrayed by Diane Weist and John Mahoney, are worried about Dan and his relationship funk.The bristling observations made by Dan’s daughters about his state of mind also ring true.

Juliette Binoche gives her role as Marie just enough surprises to keep you guessing until the film’s denouement.

Dan in Real Life is a hopeful portrayal of family life that’s funny, challenging, and uplifting.

Adrian Drayton