Movie Review: Stranger Than Fiction

There is something to tall-tales which connects with almost every human being, whether it be the nostalgic comfort of the blanket as mom continued to the next moment of suspense, or the comfortable sound of her voice fading as she finished reading for the night. Reality would be thrown out the window for that short period of time as one heard one of the endless possibilities within that 'world'.

This is what essentially makes Stranger than Fiction so appealing as an idea. What is amazing is how beautifully it translates to film. However, coming from one of the most creative directors of our time, Marc Foster ( Finding Neverland ), the result proves to be not too surprising.

Stranger than Fiction stars Will Ferrell as Harold Crick, an IRS agent whose systematic way of life could bore the most mundane of mundane. He counts his brush-strokes, his footsteps to work and back, all of which is consistently measured by time according to Crick and his watch.

These details are conveyed to the audience beautifully through the mathematical measurements displayed on screen and the voice of an eloquent female narrator: who is not quite like Mom.

However, one morning, as he is counting brushstrokes, Crick begins to hear the voice as well. As he attempts to go about his day, every action is narrated to him, yet despite his attempts to interact with her, she cannot hear him. Crick struggles to avoid listening to her until he hears a most interesting of lines "Little did he know that events have been set in motion that would lead to his imminent death."

NOT IN CONTROL: Will Ferrell (center) realizes that someone else controls his destiny in in Columbia Pictures and Mandate Pictures' comedy "Stranger than Fiction." (Columbia Pictures)

Upon realizing he is a character of a book, Crick, with the help of Professor of Literature Jules Hilbert (Dustin Hoffman) sets out to change his 'story', find love, and eventually the author/narrator. They eventually find out that Karen Eiffel (Emma Thompson) a well recognized author with a history of killing off her main characters, is the narrator. Little does she know... Crick, her main character, is a real, living breathing person who is trying to avoid death by finding her before she kills him literally!

Dustin Hoffman serves well as Crick's guide down 'Literary Lane', while Emma Thompson is on the mark as narrator/novelist Karen Eiffel. Honorable mentions go to Maggie Gyllenhaal and Queen Latifah for their supporting roles. Will Ferrell stars in his best role yet, as Harold Crick. He seals the cake on a well choreagraphed bedtime story turned real; definitely keep your eyes on for a possible 'tip of the hat' Oscar nomination for Newby screen-writer, Zach Helm, come February.

Stranger than Fiction is hilarious, charming, and an instant classic! Where many 'great idea' films fail, Fiction succeeds. You completely buy into the story and wonder what will happen next. The only thing missing is a blanket, and someone to turn off the light when it is over.