Very moving and surprisingly credible

Rating: 8/10 (19 November 2006)

Will Ferrell (whom I don't ordinarily like) gives a believable, sensitive performance in a role that could have been a two-dimensional caricature. Emma Thompson is brilliant (Oscar contender once again?), and Maggie Gillenhall engaging; Linda Hunt, Queen Latifah, and Dustin Hoffman are understated and satisfying. Perhaps the only false note is the character/caricature of the "company psychologist (although it was a pleasure to see a rare appearance by Tom Hulce); he was the last person one might expect to find in a federal government facility.
This is an intelligent comedy (the adolescent triple date seated behind me "didn't get it") that manipulates the viewer, lulling him/her one moment into accepting easy comedy, challenging him/her the next with a "gotcha!" scene or moment. Seemingly chance glimpses of three anonymous characters alert us that "foreshadowing" is in play. Overall, very moving and surprisingly credible: "I brought you flours."