Judging by the marketing, one would believe THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY is this holiday’s perfect family comedy…
And it is—UP TO A POINT.
Directed by and starring Ben Stiller as Walter Mitty, the movie turns from relatively funny to (at times) downright weird.
Of course it’s based on James Thurber’s classic short story of a daydreamer who escapes his agonizingly dull life by disappearing into a world of fantasies filled with heroism, romance and action.
Actor Danny Kaye first brought Mitty to the screen in 1947.
In Ben Stiller’s version Mitty plays a photo archivist for LIFE MAGAZINE who can’t seem to locate the photo management wants to put on the cover of its final print edition.
Suffice it to say, it involves star photojournalist Sean Penn.
Then there’s his co-worker Cheryl, played beautifully by Kristen Wiig who helps him get closer to the real world and hopefully beyond his sparse love life which is pretty well stuck at eHarmony.
But the fantasies eventually turn into reality as Mitty embarks on a journey to Iceland that turns into much more than he’d bargained for.
Poor Walter Mitty.
But don’t feel sorry for him, because where there’s a will there are ways.
However, for those moviegoers showing up expecting to see another NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, TROPIC THUNDER or MEET THE PARENTS, this isn’t it.
They may find this Mitty movie just plain weird—and then some.
So be prepared for an hour and 55 minutes at the intersection of fantasy and reality.
THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY grades a C+
(Reviewed at Cinemark, Plaza)
JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES every Friday morning at 6:40 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. on NewsRadio KMBZ, 98.1 FM.
Again a wonderful short story is turned into a steaming pile of extrusion from the south-end of a north-bound bull.
http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1939/03/18/390318fi_fiction_thurber?utm_source=tny&utm_campaign=generalsocial&utm_medium=twitter&mobify=0
Took a broad cross section of 8 people to see this last night at AMC 30. Without a doubt one of the strangest films I’ve seen in the history of ever. But at the same time, highly introspective with a side order of inspiration. It actually got a thumbs up from all 8.