Likable "Zoning Out"

Rating: 9/10 (25 December 2013)

Nice looks: both Life Magazine and the adventures to Greenland, Iceland and Afghanistan. Ben Stiller is likable as ever, and a good match for the character of Walter Mitty. Sweet performance by Kristen Wiig. Perfect cameo by Sean Penn. Solid comedic performance by Patton Oswald. Nice plot development: Walter gives up his fantasies for reality; Walter's outer quest changes him inwardly. Pleasant romantic comedy thread. Other minor performances, including Shirley Maclaine, Jon Daly, Kathryn Hahn and Adrian Martinez, good enough. I did a search for the last Life magazine cover: there was a weekly (1972) and a monthly (2000). The movie does a better look, for Life. So kudos to Ben Stiller as director as well.