I Heart Huckabees Meets Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

Rating: 8/10 (27 February 2007)

Reading this, you probably think that the above comparison is strange. After all, "Stranger than Fiction" has no terminally depressed robots, Babel fish or elevators with an immense desire to drive sideways. But listen to the narrative and you'll hear echoes of Douglas Adams' whimsical voice and imaginative style.
Except for pacing problems in the middle, "Fiction" is a grandly satisfying film with great performances and thought-provoking themes. Many viewers have compared Will Ferrell's performance to that of Jim Carey in "The Truman Show." It's great to see so many SNL alumni are breaking the mold and transcending their genres; I have no doubt that Ferrell and Adam Sandler, among others, will one day give a thank-you speech at the Oscars.
Ferrell's supporting cast, too, delivers excellent performances. Emma Thompson is brilliant as an eccentric writer trying to complete her novel, while Maggie Gyllenhaal shines as a leading romantic lady. (Though Gyllenhaal excels at indie roles, it's nice to see her in something traditional, albeit with a twist.)
As mentioned, "Stranger than Fiction" loses momentum toward the middle, but patient viewers are sure to reap the benefits as Karen Eiffel delivers the film's final lines.