J: Walter Mitty had his dreams. They were still taking shape when his life was interrupted by reality. In the following decades he could never quite be content to leave them on the shelf. Now that he's stuck in middle-age he finds himself "zoning out," escaping into worlds of fantasy and daydreaming. His family seem to have adapted to it, but it's interfering with his job at LIFE Magazine where he works as a Negative Processing Manager. To top it off he has a crush on Cheryl Melhoff who does not seem to know he's alive. When he loses an important negative (taken by famed photo-journalist Sean O'Connell) he goes on an epic adventure to find it, and O'Connell. Is it worthwhile for the audience to join him on this journey?

 

C: "This has the possibility of becoming one of my favourite films". These where my words after watching the beautiful trailer for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. So I went into the theatre with very high expectations. Sadly I've become used to being disappointed as Hollywood rarely lives up to their promising trailers these days. But i am happy to report that Walter Mitty earned a spot on my list of favourite movies that deserve repeated viewing throughout my life. I could wholeheartedly relate to the Walter Mitty character. A guy stuck in a world not quite as exciting as he hoped for, yearning to break free to an adventurous life, one where he ends up seeing the world, being the hero, and of course, getting the girl. Ben Stiller did a fantastic job to bring this film to life, both as the title character and as the director. I was a bit skeptical to see the director of Zoolander and Tropic Thunder (although I love those films) take on more serious subject matter. But Ben Stiller proves himself more than capable in this world. The blending of fantasy and reality was a delight to see, and at times hilarious. But in the end, it's the heart of the film that made it stand out for me.

 

J: Ben Stiller's direction is a revelation. Zoolander, though funny, could have been directed by Derek Zoolander himself. By contrast Tropic Thunder, while still silly, was a much more assured, visually striking movie. But making a comedy is not the same as making a serious film and with Walter Mitty you'd be forgiven for thinking that it was directed by someone more experienced than Stiller. It was paced right and the visuals were well composed. From a technical point of view the movie is one of the most beautiful films of the year. Though I always liked Stiller as an actor I think I'm starting to prefer him as a director.

 

C: The whole cast deliver perfect performances, and I especially loved the small, subtle and short performance by Sean Penn as the LIFE Photographer, Sean O'Connel. Just goes to show what a great actor can do with only a few minutes of screen time. And my love for Kristen Wiig just grows each time I see her in a film. Like Johnnie says, this is a visually striking movie, and after leaving the theatre, I just wanted to rush to the airport and start an adventure of my own in some far and wonderful place.

 

J: Another remarkable thing is that movie has several layers that are slowly revealed in the narrative; things we did not notice at the start that come more and more into focus as Mitty goes on his journey. I really like the movie and felt myself swept away by the experience but there were times where I felt like it was trying too hard to manipulate a response from me. It lays on its message and intentions almost too thick. Also, the real antagonist in the movie should be Walter's bland life but instead we get Ted Hendricks, a corporate tool whose single purpose is to create within the audience a strong desire to punch him. Like the rest of the cast, Adam Scott gives a decent performance, but his character is not well thought out.

 

C: Johnnie raises a good point. The supporting cast is in the background with the main focus only on Walter for the entire film's running time. Like Adam Scott, I thought the wonderful Kathryn Hahn was under-utilized. And any movie benefits from more Kristen Wiig and Patton Oswald in my opinion... But I think credit needs to go to the casting, because though most of them get little screen time and development, like Sean Penn, these actors still managed to give you a tiny glimpse of what makes them tick. These small but important roles needed great actors, and the filmmakers succeeded in casting the right people.

 

Final Thoughts:

C: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty takes its place next to Big Fish and Stranger Than Fiction, movies that deal with life, love, discovery, re-discovery, and the essence of living life to its fullest, all with a healthy dose of fantasy. This is a wonderful film that I would highly recommend, especially at the beginning of a new year.

 

J: As a director Stiller has come a long way since Cable Guy. With a deft hand, good performances and a great eye for beautiful visuals he created a movie that will stay with viewers for a long time.

 

Trivia:

• This is the second time Thurber's short story inspired a movie. The first version was produced in 1947 and starred Danny Kaye and Boris Karloff.

• The current movie took 20 years to get off the ground. At one point Jim Carrey was considered for the lead and even Steven Spielberg was attached to direct. 

• LIFE was an influential, real-life photojournalism magazine that closed its doors in 2007.