Imagine if your daydreams started taking over your life. For chronic daydreamer Walter Mitty, this is an everyday occurrence. Walter works as a negative-asset manage for Life magazine, meaning he pretty much just looks after photographic negatives in the basement. His daydreams become such a problem that he is almost incapable of holding a conversation with his eHarmony profile advisor or his new boss Ted (Adam Scott).
When Walter is unable to find the film negative of legendary photography Sean O’Çonnells (Sean Penn)latest masterpiece for the cover of Life's last news stand issue, Walter becomes the focus of Ted and his arrogant attitude. The worst of it, however, is only in Walter’s imagination. With the help of Cheryl (Kristen Wiig), his workplace crush, he must find the missing negative to save his job and possibly win over the love of his life.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is probably the best lifestyle-channel-let’s-go-to-Iceland inspirational movie you’ll ever watch. Walter’s 'zone outs' are fantastically humorous, similar to Family Guy’s. They never spiral out of control or turn into incoherent skits that overstay their welcome.
As the movie moves forward they eventually drop off as Walter starts to take control and have adventures in his life. The movie joyfully celebrates these moments of accomplishment, treating the audience to spectacular journeys of Iceland’s winding roads and a soccer game in the Afghan mountains. These scenes are all masterfully done with wonderful cinematography and music. Special mention should be made to the soundtrack which, while I haven’t listened to it yet, makes me want to walk into an airport and fly off into the unknown (most likely Iceland).
I do have a few nitpicks (spoilers ahead, I guess).
Among these, Number One: How amazing Walter’s mobile reception was as even atop an Afghan mountain he was able to get call from Todd, his eHarmoy profile adviser. Number Two: Why did Adam Scott’s beard look like he pasted well-manicured pubes onto his face. Number Three: How convenient the final picture from Sean makes Life magazines final cover match with Walter’s earlier daydreams of him being on the cover. It is not until after viewing the movie and having time to reflect upon it that these nitpicks make it almost feel like the epiphany journey could’ve been fake and in Walter’s head, almost like Ted’s pube-beard was in the Inception movie.
Stiller has crafted a film that punctuates Walter’s transformational journey from daydreamer to life celebrator, without feeling too heavy handed or cheesy. The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty is an amazingly beautiful movie about a man with a very active imagination who finally starts to take some risks and have some hobbit-quests.
4 and a half day dreaming waffles out of 5
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