Movie Review: Stranger Than Fiction
Recent Hollywood trend: slapstick comedian attempts to break out of his mould by starring in a quasi-serious semi-experimental film which permits greater emotional range in his character. Witness Punch-Drunk Love, Man On the Moon (or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), and (arguably) Dead Poets Society.
Is Stranger Than Fiction Will Ferrell’s Punch-Drunk Love?
That’s the question that ultimately will doom the film. It simply isn’t as good as Punch-Drunk Love or Eternal Sunshine, though it tries to inhabit a similar world as those set forth by Charlie Kaufman or Michel Gondry or Spike Jonze. Despite strong acting performances by Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson (and Maggie Gyllenhaal acting as cute as a button), it doesn’t quite hit the heights of those films to which it invites comparison.
The premise is catchy enough: Harold Crick, IRS Agent, discovers one day that he is a fictional character, the creation of a novelist, who intends to kill off the character. He sets out to find his creator and beg for his life. Immediately we are plunged into the witty meta-critic world of Adaptation and other films. But it would be a mistake to compare them; STF simply doesn’t have the script or wit to compete. Will Ferrell does well enough, though he does a pretty poor job of convincing you he’s anything other than Will Ferrell. There’s no random weirdness like Talledega Nights or Anchorman here — just the kind of sincere sweetness like in 40-yr Old Virgin, without the comedic delirium.
So what then is this movie good for? Well, it’s a solid (if weird) romantic comedy with some moments of brilliance. Imagine if a film like Click or Bruce Almighty were just done with more panache and more sincerity. Dustin Hoffman’s turn as a literature professor is truly inspired, for example. In that arena, STF competes quite well, and you could even consider it to be a resounding success. Bride of Supergenius LOVED it, if that is any indicator — STF has real charm. It may not live up to the promise of its premise, but within its own little world, Stranger Than Fiction is worth a look.
OK but I don’t trust you anymore since you recommended Talladega Nights.
Comment by Susan M — November 2, 2006 @ 1:27 pm
Susan, I honestly don’t know why you didn’t find that movie funny. It was a quintessential Will Ferrell movie. But, c’est la vie!
Comment by Supergenius — November 2, 2006 @ 1:32 pm
Talledega Nights=Stupid
Supergenius=Untrustworthy
Comment by Brian G — November 2, 2006 @ 1:51 pm
Actually, that was uncalled for, Supergenius’s reviews are excellent. I didn’t care for Talladega Nights quite as much as he did, but I found his comments on Most Extreme Primate to be spot on.
Comment by Brian G — November 2, 2006 @ 2:15 pm
Great! Since I hated Punch Drunk Love (or the 10 minutes I watched of it on fast forward) and Eternal Sunshine, maybe I’ll like this. I’ve been hoping I would!
Comment by gabby — November 2, 2006 @ 2:49 pm
Thanks Brian. The Brian-Supergenius war has been averted.
gabby, if you hated Punch-Drunk Love and Eternal Sunshine, I officially have no idea whether you will like this or any other movie or TV show I can think of.
Comment by Supergenius — November 2, 2006 @ 2:53 pm
I figured that wouldn’t win me any points…
Comment by gabby — November 2, 2006 @ 5:12 pm
Hated Punch-Drunk Love. Liked Eternal Sunshine and Talladega Nights. I guess that puts me right in the middle. I like Will Ferrell so I’ll probably give it a chance eventually but I have too much of an attitude about the movies at present to actually watch a movie in a theater right now. Sad, really.
Comment by Brian V — November 2, 2006 @ 7:08 pm
You forgot to compare it to The Truman Show.
I’ll admit, the idea of this one intrigues me more than the maniacal output (I’ve seen) of Kaufman, gifted as that man is.
Comment by Rhapsidiomite — November 3, 2006 @ 2:38 am
Rhapsidiomite, good comparison — in fact, that probably is the closest comparison, though STF is far more charming.
Comment by Supergenius — November 3, 2006 @ 11:11 am
I’d like to see this one mostly for the cast. Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah, Dustin Hoffman… are reason enough to go to the movie.
I’m happy to see Will Ferrell, too.
Comment by D. Fletcher — November 3, 2006 @ 12:22 pm
Ah! I loved the Truman Show. Yay!
Comment by gabby — November 3, 2006 @ 12:48 pm
@ Supergenius, #10:
I can imagine Ferrell is extremely charming and cute. For which I must see this one. But does he ever bang on the proscenium? I suppose there are all those moments where he’s shouting up into the oblivion, “who are you,” as seen on the trailer. But what a moment from Carrey. I was stunned, to say the least.
Speaking of plays on plays on reality, how many contemporary versions can we name?
1. Stranger Than Fiction
2. The Truman Show
3. Adaptation
4. …?
It’s a popular theme today. Entertainment Weekly reviewed Borat, saying it took this idea to the extreme. It would be the next iteration of reality TV. Reality shot and edited to appear like something rehearsed: pre-prod, prod, and post-prod. I secretly wonder if Lost is really just a reality show filmed to appear like a TV drama.
Comment by Rhapsidiomite — November 4, 2006 @ 4:56 am
Rhap, of the ones you mention, Adaptation is by far the best. Meryl Streep, Nicolas Cage, Charlie Kaufman — it all came together. At the same time, though, there’s no real level of comparison; Adaptation’s focus is far more on the writing process and creative processes in general than on the nature of existence and God. I’d argue that it just doesn’t belong in your list. Maybe Being John Malkovitch.
Comment by Supergenius — November 4, 2006 @ 12:21 pm
…hmm…I had realized the first two dealt with the theme of the existence of God. But that wasn’t exactly what I was after. Still.
Now I’m wondering if Adaptation is even in this category. For example, TV’s The Office plays on reality, but not reality within reality. Ah shoot, now I’m all confused.
I’ve had an story idea brewing in my head for quite sometime now that deals with reality within reality that’s all just really drama.
(And my apologies for hijacking this thread and taking it down a new path.)
Comment by Rhapsidiomite — November 5, 2006 @ 12:13 am