It might seem safe to assume that any movie with Steve Carell in it will automatically be good, but after seeing Evan Almighty this is clearly not the case. The trailer for Horton Hears A Who also had me cringing a little bit, but thankfully we still have Get Smart to look forward to, and maybe — just maybe — the upcoming film Dan in Real Life.

Director Peter Hedges wrote the screenplays for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and About A Boy, and he also wrote and directed Pieces of April. Dan in Real Life is a romantic comedy about a widower who writes a parenting advice column (Steve Carell) that falls in love with his brother’s girlfriend (Juliette Binoche). Sounds good so far right? Well, hang on a second… Dan’s brother is played by Dane Cook! How this guy can be landing so many roles all of a sudden (especially in a movie like this) is beyond me. Not only is he unfunny, but he certainly hasn’t proven himself as a serious actor either (Mr. Brooks, ’nuff said). Still, the trailer for Dan in Real Life did have some charm to it, despite a few groaners, and it seems like a great opportunity for Carell to get himself back on track. Check out the trailer over at Apple and see what you think. Dan in Real Life hits theatres on October 12, 2007.