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Movie Review - Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
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(What this rating means)
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| Director: |
Marc Forster |
| Starring: |
Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Thompson, and Dustin Hoffman |
| Rated: |
PG-13 (for some disturbing images, sexuality, brief language and nudity) |
| Length: |
113 minutes |
| Genre: |
Comedy/Drama/Fantasy/Romance |
| Tagline: |
Harold Crick isn't ready to go. Period. |
| Studio: |
Sony Pictures |
| Website: |
Stranger than Fiction |
| Release: |
November 10, 2006 |
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PLOT
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Karen Eiffel (Thompson) has been working on her latest novel for almost 10 years. This could be her
masterpiece. However, she has one challenge remaining that she can't quite overcome - how should she kill
off her main character, Harold Crick (Ferrell)?
Matters become, shall we say - complicated, when it's revealed that Harold lives in the real world and he suddenly
becomes aware of her words. She's narrating his day-to-day activities. Harold can't figure out where this
woman's voice is coming from, and as soon as she refers to his "imminent death," he becomes desperately
determined to figure out an alternate ending. A compelling collision of fiction and reality ensues.
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JOHNNY'S TAKE
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If you're looking for a "Will Ferrell comedy" where he runs around acting stupid, screaming at the top
of his lungs, and basically annoying the [Fergie's Music] out of me then you need to keep on lookin'. What
I'm about to say will soon become a cliché, but this is a different role for Ferrell, and I happen to think
that's a good thing.
Is "subduedness" a word? If so then that's what Ferrell brings to Harold Crick. *pulls out the dictionary*
Cool, it is a real word! Just a slightly awkward one. Fine, we'll say Ferrell underplays this just
enough to make Harold the sweet, innocent hero that he is required to be for us to cheer for him to find that
alternate ending. Better?
Harold seems like a tough guy not to like. Until you find out he's a tax man. Plus, he's a little obsessive.
He counts the strokes when he's brushing his teeth. He knows the exact number of steps he must take to reach
the bus every morning. He takes a 45.7-minute lunch break and a 4.3-minute coffee break. Everything is a
routine, and he relies on his wristwatch to keep him on track.
Contrast that with the woman he's sent to audit - the tax-evadin', anarchy-lovin' bakery owner Ana Pascal (played
by the extremely personable Maggie Gyllenhaal). It's a match made seemingly, well, not in Heaven, so when they
start to have feelings for each other you really don't expect to buy it. But you know what? It works!
The romance is simple and subtle, and surprisingly believable.
But the meat of the story, the ol' sauce on the steak as grandpa used to say, revolves around Harold's efforts
to figure out from whence the voice in his head is coming. Whereas I'm about to initiate some efforts to
find out why I just used "from whence." Harold really needs to figure out what to do once he hears her talk
about his death. Is his life a comedy or a tragedy? Can he change his fate, or should he resign himself to
accepting what appears to be inevitable?
I can hear you now (you crazy voice in my head!) - how do you take a story about a real-life man who slowly
learns his life is some weird product of fiction and make it work? How do you deliver a satisfying ending to
such a perplexing structure? Well, I had the same questions. I didn't know if it'd pull it off, but it does,
and all I can say, without giving too much away, is the proof is in the viewing.
A viewing experience that is unique in how it takes so many elements of different genres and figures
out how to make them work together. There are laughs, there's drama, there's fantasy, and as I
mentioned earlier, there's a little romance as well. In fact...
*puts down man card*
Ferrell gives Gyllenhaal a gift that inspired the most amount of "awwwwws" from the audience that I've heard
at a movie this year. I have to admit, it really is a sweet moment.
*picks up man card*
I liked the structure of the story, and Emma Thompson's narration is handled in such a way that it adds a little
mystery and keeps you guessing how the story will wrap. I was even impressed with some of the visuals in
the film, specifically the manifestations of the numerical analyses in Harold's mind.
The first 2/3rds of the movie set everything up so well that I was really scared of a disappointing payoff.
I wasn't necessarily rooting for a "happy" ending; I simply wanted a satisfying one. If it were true that
Harold must die for the book to be Emma's masterpiece, then sell me on it. However, if Emma could figure out
an alternate ending, then sell me on that.
As always, I won't reveal what happens. I recommend you watch it and find out on your own. So I'll just sum
up my final opinion this way - sold.
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ODDS & ENDS
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- The street names, business names, and the characters' last names are significant - Crick, Pascal, Eiffel,
Escher, Banneker, Kronecker, Cayly, etc. are all mathematicians who focused on the innate order of
things.
- On set, Ferrell was able to literally re-create the experience of having a voice in his head because Emma
Thompson had pre-recorded her narration, which was then played to Ferrell through an ear-piece during his scenes.
"Emma has such a great voice," he remarks. "It was great fun to have her in my head, and also weird for all
the right reasons."
- Emma Thompson is the only person to ever win Oscars for both acting and writing.
- Thompson easily sums up why she was attracted to Stranger than Fiction. "It was the best script I'd
read in years and years," she states. "It was one of those rare instances where you think, 'Yes, absolutely, I'll
do anything to serve this writing.' The way in which Zach Helm created a fictional reality and a real fiction -
going both ways at once - is one of the most remarkable things I've encountered.
- Tom Hulce ended a 13-year hiatus from film acting to take the part of IRS Human Resources counselor
Dr. Cayly after Marc Forster, a long-time fan, doggedly pursued him.
- Good news for those of you who complain about the lack of realistic tooth-brushing in movies - we see
Will Ferrell brushing his teeth with ACTUAL TOOTHPASTE! It's a rarity, I know. And I'm sure it's something
hardly anybody else ever notices. Oh well.
- Will Ferrell was in Melinda and Melinda with Josh Brolin who was in Hollow Man with Kevin
Bacon.
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MAMA'S APPROVAL
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Aside from one scene, this is safe for the whole family. The scene in question takes place in a shower, and we
see a couple of fat, hairy, nasty naked guys. As soon as you see Hoffman and Ferrell in a locker room
immediately cover your children's eyes AND your own eyes. Trust me, nobody needs or wants to see that.
There are two instances of G-d**n, but other than that this film is profanity-free.
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TRAILER COMPARISON
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After watching the trailer my impressions were torn between hokey and interesting. It didn't completely sell
me, but it didn't scare me off either. I'm pleased to report that the movie exceeded my expectations.
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THE GIST
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You might be disappointed if you want another over-the-top Will Ferrell comedy. However, those of you in the
mood for a less annoying side of Ferrell, a mix of drama and comedy, and something a little different and
inspiring should consider giving Stranger than Fiction a chance.
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