Cinema-Report #2 - The secret life of Walter Mitty
This week I watched “The secret life of Walter Mitty” which is apparently based on a short-story (which I haven't read yet, but I plan to do so).
Once more the warning, there might be some spoilers in the following review.
At first, I didn't really want to see it, because I thought it was just another silly comedy with Ben Stiller. When I learned that it was about a day-dreamer who had to go on a real journey that would turn out even wilder than his imagination, I became more interested.
And that's what the film is actually about, too. The day-dreams of Walter Mitty really are quite ridiculous and he frequently completely zones out because of them. However, when not only he but also the woman he's (secretly) interested in are about to loose their jobs, he quite literally wakes up. With not much more than his passport he heads out on his first journey. And since this ends only half-successful, he later leaves (although a bit better equipped) for another one.
As one already expects rather soon, the solution for his troubles had been far closer to home all the time, but I didn't mind. The story isn't about that Walter Mitty is too stupid to interpret a simple clue, it's about how everybody can become an adventurer and hero if they only find something that is worth fighting for, and how such an experience can enrich your life.
So, yes, the film was a bit silly sometimes, but in a good way. Most of the time it's an interesting kind of road movie and offers some great landscape views and even nice special effects.