Could have been a great film

Rating: 7/10 (22 February 2007)

I did enjoy watching this film, I was never bored and I was intrigued by the story. The trouble was that by the end I felt pangs of mild disappointment. This was potentially an excellent film, what it lacked for me was a clear identity. Was it tragedy, comedy or tragicomedy? It seems the actors weren't quite sure either.
Emma Thompson playing the writer character Kay Eiffel seemed to be going for the lightweight Richard Curtis type Brit comedy style (side note...Emma Thompson always looks like she is ACTING and I can't look at her without thinking "Jolly Hockey Sticks"...) while Will Ferrell played friendless tax inspector Harold Crick having a much more sombre and darker take on things. I think Will Ferrell had it about right and was excellent, but I think the tone of the film as a whole should have been darker, especially the feeble "Hollywood" ending.
Still, It was well worth watching, and Oh, I forgot to say Maggie Gyllenhaal as Ana Pascal was gorgeous throughout.