Stranger Than Fiction (PG-13) :
In Stranger Than Fiction, Will Ferrell finds himself in a very different role. He’s no longer the funnyman, not the buffoon; he's simply the main character who's being narrated. He plays the role of IRS agent Harold Crick, who gets a visit by an author, Kay Eiffel (played by Emma Thompson).
Ferrell has no problem in making the transition to his first serious role. His love interest in the film is Ana Pascal, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Her performance as the heavily-tattooed baker is equally convincing. Rounding up the cast is Dustin Hoffman, whose role as the literary professor, Jules Hilbert, is extremely satisfying.
The story revolves around the fact that Crick is the product of a writer’s imagination. He can hear all her narrations loud and clear. Then, one day, the stakes for Crick go to a new level. Beyond the problem of having his life determined by a narrator, it's his life itself on the line, when the voice refers to an incident that will lead to his death. He then consults a shrink, (Linda Hunt) who leads him to Professor Jules Hilbert. The Professor instructs him to pursue a relationship with Ana Pascal, in order to find out how his life will unfold.
Director Marc Forster creates a fresh and original fantasy love story. Unfortunately, the ending is a little less satisfying than you would expect. At times, the dialogue also disappoints, but the cinematography is superb. Overall, the movie is smart and surprising, and will appeal to most people. |
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