Sheer Class. Ben Stiller: you sir, are a very fine actor and director. Good job.

Rating: 10/10 (13 January 2014)

This is one of the best films of 2013. It is deserving of a 10 simply because I can't give it a 9.5 on here. It's a big budget Hollywood effort with an Indie-movie heart and Art-house touch. It has everything. I very nearly avoided this movie because of previously negative reviews and some bad press. I am so glad I didn't.
I began watching with low expectation and having made assumptions about what I was about to see from Ben Stiller. How wrong was I? 30 minutes in I turned around to my 11 year old son who was watching with me and said to him that this was a really cool movie. He agreed. It was a brilliant scene where Walter shared his skateboarding skills with young Richard. It was a short scene but so powerfully done and the timing of the edits was absolutely perfect. When you watch it, you will know what I mean. It conveyed Walter's humanity perfectly.
From this point onward, for me, the film's quality began to really emerge. Slowly at first, and then it begins to accelerate as we travel with Walter to Greenland, Iceland and Afghanistan. Beautifully shot, amazing colours, and a stunning soundtrack make this film a truly wonderful viewing experience. It has moments of silly humour, touching humour, tenderness and moments that make you think deeply about what makes us tick.
There is some outstanding cinematography: Walter skateboarding down the main route to Iceland's Seyðisfjörður through Fjarðarheiði heath is breath-taking in its brilliance and the soccer match in which Walter and Sean (Penn) kick a ball with local Afghanis until the sun slips slowly below the horizon are stand-outs.
Ben Stiller's most understated and best performance to date. Sean Penn's few minutes of screen time confirms he is not only a fine actor but that he can find the finest subtle comedy when he needs to without foregoing drama we know him for. Shirely MacLaine was the perfect mum character and Kirsten Wiig is genuinely sincere as Walter's new friend. Adam Scott even does his bit when he realises it is he and not Walter who is the 'loser' in life.
Watch this film. It won't be what you might expect, but it will take you on a wonderful journey, a truly wonderful journey whose destination will leave you very satisfied indeed.