Bunch of Nonsense
Music, Books and Life in the SpiritArchive for November, 2007
Dan In Real Life
Abby and Ben and I saw “Dan In Real Life” today. I just thought I would pass on the fact that this was a refreshingly well written, funny, touching movie. And believe me when I say this, I am MR. PICKY. Just ask my family. I can’t remember when I last came home from a movie and didn’t say, “if only they would have done this” or “they should have done that” or “that was simply a mess.” I’ve been known to concoct entirely new endings, plot lines, characters… it’s part of being a writer, always re-writing (sometimes to my detriment). And except for one minuscule moment which I thought was just a little too Micheal Scottish, I… (it’s actually kind of hard for me to say this) but I don’t think I would change one thing about this movie. It even has a tiny little moral moment about something in which Hollywood almost always just assumes the opposite (regarding sleeping arrangements of unwed couples). If I could see five more movies like this I just just might begin the process of being cleansed from seeing the moral horror that was “Knocked Up.” So here’s to writers Pierce Gardner and Peter Hedges. May other screenwriters take note of how less is more, themes woven into the story should flow through the WHOLE story, characters should be consistent and can be funny without being stupid, all families are not dark, twisted and evil or brainless and sappy, etc.,. etc.,. Bravo!
