Stiller's remake is admirable but overwhelming

Rating: 8/10 (8 December 2013)

THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (2013) *** Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn, Shirley MacLaine, Sean Penn. Remake of the classic film based on James Thurber's short story about a nebbish (Stiller, who also directs) with an overactive imagination is, this time, a photographic editor for the on-the-wane LIFE Magazine, who's job is in jeopardy leads him on a globe-trotting adventure of a lifetime. Embued with humor and gravitas of an everyman's desire to break free from his doldrums Stiller gives one of his best performances with a top-notch supporting cast and impressive eye-popping cinematography by Stuart Dryburgh. While the screenplay adaptation by Steve Conrad is admirable the overwhelming use of visual effects tends to tamper down the themes a bit (i.e. the street-fighting grudge match between Stiller and jerk- off Scott feel like outtakes from the last Spider-Man flick).