Director: Peter Hedges, PG, 2007

Stars: Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dianne Wiest

Rental/retail DVD

This amenable comedy pits one frustrated man against an entire family. So far, so Meet the Parents - but this time, it's his flesh and blood rather than the in-laws who are furrowing the brow of the twitchy protagonist.

A columnist who dispenses domestic advice, Dan (Carell) has failed to practise what he preaches since the death of his wife, playing Eeyore to a houseful of Tiggers at a family gathering. Might an exotic stranger (Binoche) provide an unexpected tonic? Binoche's character is flimsy, but there are plenty of bittersweet laughs and Carell's hangdog schtick is the match of Ben Stiller's. Extras include a thoughtful commentary from Hedges, who was asked to direct after initially being hired as a script doctor.

DVD extras Commentary, two featurettes, deleted scenes, out-takes

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