Lite Kaufmanesque dramedy; Ferrell attempts for a lighter key; Thompson a hoot

Rating: 7/10 (12 December 2006)

STRANGER THAN FICTION (2006) ** Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah, Emma Thompson, Linda Hunt. Frequently amusing but pale imitation of a Charlie Kaufman lite story about a fictional character (Ferrell attempting to be in the same league as Bill Murray  the sad clown) who discovers he's actually real and attempts to avoid his destiny (i.e. his death) by trying to find the narrative voice that plagues him in the form of the story's author (Thompson having a field day with fine dark comic aplomb). Despite the slightly surreal underpinnings of Zach Helm's storyline the end result doesn't reach the treacle that director Marc Forster aims for.