Saturday, April 5, 2008

What is your "Real Life?"

We watched a movie a few nights ago, "Dan in Real Life." Going into the movie, I thought that it would be a typical, cookie cutter, predictable movie. In a lot of ways, this movie was just that. However, it was also a breath of fresh air.
The funny thing is, I didn't really pay attention to the main plot of the story. Sure, I knew what was going on and I was rooting for Dan. What really made me enjoy the movie, was the way the family did life.
The premise of the movie is that a family gets together once a year for a reunion at their parents' house on the lake. Dan falls in love with a woman the first time he meets her, who turns out to be his brother's new girlfriend. That is the main plot. Behind the scenes, however the family interacts through totally random things: 1. guys vs. girls crossword race with the daily paper, 2. family talent show, 3. working out together (exercising... as if they were an exercise class- maybe you just have to see the movie). Those were a few things that stuck out among many others.

If you have the chance, check this movie out and rethink the way your family does "real life."

2 comments:

WICK said...

Nicol family guys vs. Nicol family girls....yup, we'd waste you.

Oring-Anderson family guys, vs. Oring-Anderson family girls....might be more even, but we have my dad who would give us speed on the crossword.

Ethiopianmomma said...

We watched this last night. I like the movie and then actually struggled with some of it. But, this is an entire conversation, not a blog comment thought.
The Family: Loved them.
Loyal. Liked one another. Spontaneous. Warm. Intentional. Obviously created and kept traditions. What a welcoming and embracing bunch!
I even liked how they were all up in one another business as they did it out of love.
There was no one that got joy out of saying, "I told you so". They gave one another Grace and room to be uniquely human.
Your blog comment led to a good discussion with Jason and I last night regarding family traditions~ his idea: to alternate every other night between hamburger helper and sex. I had to redirect him to what I meant by "family traditions". Dur.