Fairly Entertaining, but Ultimately, a Bit Vapid

Rating: 5/10 (21 January 2014)

From time to time, I'm thankful that Aldous Huxley coined the term "feelie" to describe a movie that thinks it can dispense with artful narrative and bull through with breathtaking scenery, general film technique, disconnected comedic chops, and "aw, shucks" sentimentality. If Thurber saw "Walter Mitty", I'm sure he'd agree that it's a feelie.
I'm not saying it's a bad movie, just that it's not a good one; certainly not a great one. Tone is mismanaged, which is inevitable when you mold a script, paper mache-like, over the scaffolding of Thurber's concept, with a mere handful of plotty-twisty elements thrown in; like the rather tepid will-they-or-won't-they romantic interest that feels like it fizzled long before it arrived.
In general, all the hard work folks did on this flick was doomed to mediocrity by lame scenario work and scripting--which I have no doubt was executed with great valor under looming deadlines, but still, "no cigar".
A side negatory: The product placement really stuck out like a sore thumb; sorta adds to the "feelie" factor, as well....
The good stuff? Some great scenes; some wonderful acting, much by unknowns; occasional swashbuckling adventure action stuff that was kinda fun to watch; I found the unexpected intrusions of the e-Harmony support guy to be a hoot. I enjoyed the scenes with Penn; he's a matchless professional.
I would tend to recommend that you not waste your time, IFF you feel your movie-going time is precious, and prefer really *great* flicks.