The Fact Is The Fiscal

Rating: 6/10 (9 November 2014)

I got really geared up for this film before it was released. Had the makings of Spike Jonze doing a Douglas Adams novel with Terry Southern and Tom Stoppard as the screen writers. And the cast drafted, it had the Vegas odds of being a sure fire win. So why wasn't it? In two words - 'creative restraint'. What had the air of a 2hr 23min Woody Allen or Terry Gilliam art house masterpiece was brutally condensed, compressed, and compacted to run just a little more than a hour and a half. And even then it still seemed like it was too long. It starts off well enough, and draws the viewer in. But as the revelation and paradox starts to unfold, it gets sidetracked to this valiant and righteous love story. Which could have worked well enough on it's own without the superfluous and surreal pretense of this 'parallel universe' meanderings. But that's what I initially bought the ticket for. And was like sitting on a well inflated Whoopee Cushion with a delayed reaction. It was sitting high at first, and comfortable. And I knew something was going to 'go off'. But when it did, it was quiet and muffled and not at all the outlandish and chaotic hilarity I had hoped for. I just slowly sank in my seat disgusted while the old lady three rows behind thought it might be her emanating the rude expulsion - which this film rightfully deserves anyways. Too little with too much does not always equal cinematic merit. The box office receipts, and where did a hour and a half of your life disappear to is the true mystery of Stranger Than Fiction.