Steve in Reel Life

Oct. 25, 2007 — -- He made us laugh with his excruciating and uneven wax jobs as a 40-year-old virgin. He made us cringe with his equally excruciating one-liners on "The Office." But for Steve Carell, the film "Dan in Real Life" presented the Golden Globe winner with a whole new set of challenges and opportunities.

Carell talks about what was certainly a departure from his typically atypical role. "I tried as long as I could to just play idiots, people who have problems emotionally -- but this guy, he is relatively normal." Carell explains that the character of Dan is "a guy who has just lost his wife and is just doing the best he can. He's doing all he can to keep himself afloat."

And though Carell's character may best be described with adjectives like "normal" or "identifiable," the film itself has some not-so-normal aspects. Like it's A-list cast of critically acclaimed actors and comedians.

Carell heads the ensemble as Dan Burns, a father of three facing the combined challenges of widowhood and the equally daunting task of raising three girls. To complicate things more, the down-and-out dad cannot help falling in love with his brother's girlfriend, Marie, played by Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche.

"It's Bee-nosh!" Steve warns, "not Bee-noshe," as he enunciates the last name of his French co-star. But in spite of her challenging surname, Carell admits, "Juliette Binoche is a fantastic actress. I was incredibly intimidated." Joining the ranks is fellow funnyman Dane Cook to play Carell's thwarted brother, Mitch Burns.

Even with the big names, Carell says the group naturally adopted a team dynamic. "I felt that we were very much part of an ensemble and I think that shows when you see the movie," he explained. "We all thought the movie would be better, and the story would be better told and better served if it was just an ensemble telling the story as opposed to individuals. … No one was going for their, I call them their 'for your consideration moments.'" In spite of his comedic origins, Carell thrives opposite Hollywood veterans, saying that it brings out his A-game. "Only because those people make me look better -- if you act with someone that is by far your superior, you look better."