Steve Carell plays the male lead in this romantic comedy. Dan (Carell), a father of two girls, falls for Marie (the always charming Juliette Binoche), his brother's girlfriend, during a holiday stay at his family mansion.
Although he is credible as a writer racked by unattainable love, Carell's attempts at wooing Marie sometimes seem awkward.
One of the most jarring scenes sees Dan shimmy onto a dance floor and win Marie over with his moves.
Audiences will likely find this unconvincing, as his stiff steps are a turn-off.
Binoche's performance, meanwhile - her perfect American accent and radiant smiles - often eclipses that of her co-star.
But the movie's many unlikely scenarios undermine the otherwise sweet story. These include family Scrabble competitions between males and females and a talent show where family members take turns to stage their acts.