OBS MOVIE REVIEWS: STRANGER THAN FICTION

Stranger Than Fiction

Rating: Rated PG-13

Brought to you by OBS staff member Annabell Cadiz

Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) is an IRS agent. He lives his life by a very strict routine. His best friend as also an IRS agent. He has no girlfriend or family. He lives alone. Harold’s life is pretty boring until one day when he wakes up and begins to hear a woman’s voice narrating every single of his actions. Harold at first thinks he’s just hearing things. He tries to ignore the voice and continue on with his everyday routine but the voice makes a comment of Harold’s upcoming death and sends Harold on a crazy hunt to find the person behind the voice. Karen Eiffel (Emma Thompson) is writing a novel where coincidently her main character is named Harold Crick, and unknown to her, the voice narrating Crick’s life story. She is battling writer’s block, unable to determine how she wants Harold’s character to die. Harold fights frantically to find Karen Eiffel and Karen is about to get the biggest surprise of her life!

I am not too big of a fan of Will Ferrell but Stranger Than Fiction changed my opinion of him greatly. He shows wonderful range in this movie, showcasing fear, denial, loneliness, and love with subtle humor that fits Ferrell’s character well. Ferrell does a beautiful job of capturing the audience and keeping you interested in what’s happening to his character.

Dustin Hoffman plays a literary theorist who Harold Crick goes to help him figure out what type of story he is in and what that means for the outcome. Hoffman is great as the laid back, go with the flow of life, professor. He adds to the humor while helping Harold to figure out if he’s in a comedy or tragedy. Emma Thompson is beautiful and tragic. She plays the reclusive, antisocial author terrifically. She is just pure pleasure to watch on screen. Maggie Gyllenhal plays the out spoken and anti-government baker who ends up being audited by Harold Crick. She’s no nonsense but sweet at the same time.

Stranger Than Fiction is quirky and simplistically charming. You will laugh and find yourself wishing you can hug Will Ferrell’s character Harold Crick while yelling at the author not to kill him. Filled with odd comedy, strange storyline that somehow fits and heartwarming moments, Stranger Than Fiction has become one of my favorite movies to watch.

Running Time: 113 min
Director: Marc Forster
Rating: 10/10 stars!