First off, let me say I loved this film. I wasn’t really sure what to expect from it. The rather disconcerting poster did not reveal much and though I had seen a trailer, I mustn’t have paid much attention to it.

However, I did know that I love Steve Carell in pretty everything he has done and I guessed that this would be more Little Miss Sunshine thanThe 40 Year Old Virgin and I was right. It isn’t a laugh-out-loud comedy (I believe it is described as a dramedy but that word always reminds me of camels so I don’t like using it) but it is warm, touching, funny, and chock full of good performances.

Juliette Binoche plays the love interest and she brings a touch of class and intrigue to the character. You can see why he is so taken with her so quickly, only to discover that she is his younger brother’s girlfriend. The action centres around an annual family get-together at Dan’s parents’ house in New England (I guess, I haven’t looked it up).

Carell really brings pathos to this role and the audience is firmly in his corner as we cheer on this widowed man with three girls to raise. These girls really could do with a kick in the arse, by the way, as they give him no credit for all he does for them; Instead the two eldest just seem intent on bitching him out for his rather rational and fair parenting. I guess teenagers are devoid of compassion. Anyway.

The large ensemble cast with the likes of Amy Ryan (love her in the Office season finale!) and Dane Cook (I didn’t he was an actor as well as a comedian – In fact I really don’t know much about him at all but this was not what I was expecting) all contribute to the feeling of warmth and family that is so integral to the lives of the characters and ultimately make Dan’s feelings for his brother’s new girlfriend so hard for him to handle. If you like Little Miss Sunshine, then give this a whirl.