Ben Stiller's surreal, dramatic turn

Rating: 6/10 (9 December 2013)

Ben Stiller is known for being a comic actor and an occasional director and with his latest film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty he takes more serious turn. Based on the short story of the same name about a man who daydreams Stiller gives us a very dreamlike looking world with his wide shots and bright, white colour pallet. Even the real life world had a surreal quality to it, particularly when Walter is travelling to find photographer Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn).
Stiller gives a strong performance and he works well with Kristen WIgg, Shirley MacLaine and Kathryn Hahn. Some of the daydreaming sequences were better then others, some being a bit too long. The best being a sweet moment when Walter's love interest comes back and sings 'Major Tom'.
Unfortunately the ending for the film does drag on as the film attempts to be a life affirming experience.
This is film that has an excellent soundtrack.
3/5