Visually stunning, narratively irrational

Rating: Null/10 (20 March 2014)

The character of Walter Mitty is not completely alien to Stiller, as the actor lately has been shying away from comedic roles in favor of more dramatic films. Whilst not terribly original, Stiller succeeds in making Walter charismatic and believable. The daydreams are visually stunning, and work very well in showing the deeper reaches of the character's insecurities and ambitions.
However, Stiller's layered portrayal seems misplaced amidst the grotesque and cartoonish characters that make up the rest of the cast. Both Kristen Wiig as Cheryl, the object of Walter's affection, and Adam Scott as the main antagonist never are able to create depth in their two dimensional personalities. This is emphasized by the gaping irrationality of the plot. The premise of Walter as a bland and passive persona who has done nothing worthy of mention is carefully built up, only to be discarded completely when he travels to Greenland, Iceland and the lower Himalayas successively with little to no hesitation. The aptness with which he fights a shark and skateboards down a volcano is out of character, whilst the arc of his development as a person is unrealistic. The cookie-cutter end makes matters worse, as Walter ends up in a relationship with a woman whom he has shared minimal screen time with and the underdeveloped family-subplot is resolved by oddly selling the piano he has spent ¾ of the film desperately trying to preserve. All of this makes the film feel out of balance and unfinished.
Despite all this, the biggest downfall of the film is its blatant product placement. Whilst it is completely understandable that the funding of a film is dependent on sponsors, the products' contrived inclusion in the plot is both annoying and unnecessary. The recurring mention of franchises and services in both dialog and image is really quite offensive.
The film has a great message ('Act upon your ambitions'), has a charismatic protagonist and is shot on location in some of the most beautiful places on earth. Who can overlook the inconsistencies in the plot and characters, as well as insistent product placement (that at times feels as if watching a commercial) will surely be entertained.
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