Belated amusement
I have to say, Will Farrell has grown on me. Apparently, SNL has had amazing comedians on its show. However, I have yet to watch an episode of SNL that actually seemed consistently funny. It is because of this that I tend to have reservations about any comedian that moves on from SNL to film. The only impression I recall of Farrell was his male, cheerleader character. I can see how some can find that character funny, but it tended to strike me as purely obnoxious. That impression only began to fade when Ben Stiller introduced me to Farrell’s hilarious ability to be outraged.
Stranger than Fiction is a well-calculated and paced comedy. The premise takes a severe leap of faith, and that leap is delightfully taken. Farrell plays Harold, a meticulous man who suddenly hears a voice (in his head) narrating his daily life, in novel format. His initial annoyance turns to concern when his storyteller reveals that his death is looming. From here, the story weaves in characters that give Harold plenty to think and feel, as he searches for his mysterious soothsayer.
This film provided solid comedy in several ways. One moment I’d be laughing at an outrageousness situation, and the next, Farrell would add an extra kick with just the inflection of his voice. The primary characters are endearing, and there is a clear sense of interconnectedness. As the story reaches its conclusion, curiosity drives the plot to the end. Every twist and turn seems deliberate and planned, which makes for a confident film.
Stranger than Fiction is a well-calculated and paced comedy. The premise takes a severe leap of faith, and that leap is delightfully taken. Farrell plays Harold, a meticulous man who suddenly hears a voice (in his head) narrating his daily life, in novel format. His initial annoyance turns to concern when his storyteller reveals that his death is looming. From here, the story weaves in characters that give Harold plenty to think and feel, as he searches for his mysterious soothsayer.
This film provided solid comedy in several ways. One moment I’d be laughing at an outrageousness situation, and the next, Farrell would add an extra kick with just the inflection of his voice. The primary characters are endearing, and there is a clear sense of interconnectedness. As the story reaches its conclusion, curiosity drives the plot to the end. Every twist and turn seems deliberate and planned, which makes for a confident film.