Living with One's Head in the Clouds Isn't Living

Rating: 9/10 (23 May 2014)

The rare case of a maligned remake, a long-term denizen of development hell, which seems to have benefited from the extended incubation. The offbeat saga of a chronic introvert, so conflicted he debates the merits of a single mouse click, it thrives on his spirited imagination and the audience's uncertainty about where the line stretches between stark reality and vibrant make-believe. These scenes, peppered with equal amounts of breakneck effects magic and surprising, effective laughs, are the heart and soul of the movie. Not only do they keep the pace skipping along at a frantic speed, but they also effectively foreshadow upcoming events, convey Walter's wants and needs, and chart his progress on the road to self-discovery. Ben Stiller is wonderful in the leading role, both as a mousey, zoned-out ghost at the journey's outset and the large, confident individual he becomes, and the awkward chemistry he shares with Kristen Wiig is just right. My sole complaint, really, is that after handling so much in the opening acts, it feels stuck during the slower-paced home stretch. Intelligent, thoughtful, entertaining adventures - both real and imagined - with a beating heart and a fresh sense of style.