A far dreaming movie and ambitious experience

Rating: 8/10 (5 December 2013)

Wow, I saw a premiere of TSLOWM last night and wanted to talk about it immediately with those on line with me waiting to get their cell phones back.... Didn't have many takers.... Is that a sign that this wasn't a typical Ben Stiller effort full of sophomoric humor, little guy stands up to the big guy plot? No, because those elements were there to varying degrees of success. The point that I want to make is that the movie had many ideals, humor and moments that, although not entirely surprising, were still meaningful to me. Stillers direction from Tropic Thunder was professional and TSLOWM was adventurous beyond what I expected.
First note was that the audience, despite not seeming to grasp the experience, was reacting along with the movie in anticipatory laughter which was great to be a part of. Second note was the artistic approach had merits in form (its a story about a guy who works for LIFE magazine) so the form really fit. There is a bit of The Endless Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind in that form. Third note is I was more into the movie experience than I was getting sucked in by the obvious messages. In that aura American Beauty excelled where TSLOWM was stretching to get there.
There is, unfortunately, Ben Stiller who starts off as Walter Mitty and ends up a version of Ben Stiller that seemed to detract from the adventure to get to that point. A lesser box office draw working with Stiller, the Director, would have given the film more air to breathe and add to the suspension of disbelief.... an opportunity missed? Absolutely not. The message is played out by Stiller making the film
as Super Ted would say, a film worth watching (more than once)