Cinematical

Based only on the trailer for Steve Carell's next movie -- I think I'm already willing to forgive the guy for his participation in the amazing wretchedness that was Evan Almighty. Plus I'm of the opinion that there are very few comedic actors who are as funny as they are likable, and Steve Carell is an amazingly likable performer. Whether he's going extra-silly (Bruce Almighty), ultra-obtuse (The Office), or sweet-yet-fractured (Little Miss Sunshine), Carell's just an actor I love to root for. Plus he should have been nominated for The 40-Year-Old Virgin.

So when I sat down to check out the brand-new trailer for Touchstone's Disney's Dan in Real Life, I got a little excited. I know it's only a promotional clip, but this flick looks all sorts of fantastic. It's about a widower who makes a living as an advice columnist, but who falls in love with his brother's girlfriend after taking his three daughters to a family retreat in the Rhode Island woods. (At least that's what I got from the trailer!) Backing Carell up in this ensemble piece are Dane Cook, Juliette Binoche, Dianne Wiest, Emily Blunt and the always-awesome John Mahoney.

Plus the flick comes packing a rather solid pedigree: The director/co-writer is Peter Hedges, who directed Pieces of April, co-wrote About a Boy and penned the novel that became What's Eating Gilbert Grape. The film opens in limited release on October 12 and will expand to more theaters a week later. Between this flick, a new season of The Office and next year's Get Smart -- I'm sure that Evan Almighty will soon become little more than a distant (albeit very painful) memory.