A stunning surprise

Rating: 8/10 (6 February 2007)

I went into this film expecting to enjoy it as something to do that wouldn't be a complete waste of time but, by the end, I found myself truly delighted with the work I'd just seen. I'm not usually a fan of Will Ferrell's more goofy antics but in this he held himself admirably well, amidst such greats as Maggie Gyllenhaal and Dustin Hoffman - all while holding onto his unique brand of whimsicality and comedic timing.
Emma Thompson nails her characterisation of a well seasoned author at wit's end, thanks to writer's block, as only she can do. No actor feels out of place among their peers in this piece and not one of them is failing to pull their own weight. The script is like a breath of fresh air. It's awkward, painful, hilarious, charming and refreshingly intelligent, without thinking too much of itself or abandoning its characters in the hopes of purely being a "smart film".
Stranger Than Fiction is a small nugget of brilliance for the writer, reader, lover, laugher and life liver in all of us.