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Ben Stiller
directs and stars in The Secret Life Of
Walter Mitty, James Thurber's classic story of a day-dreamer who escapes
his anonymous life by disappearing into a world of fantasies filled with
heroism, romance and action. When his job along with that of his co-worker
(Kristen Wiig) are threatened, Walter takes action in the real world embarking
on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than
anything he could have ever imagined.
Eternal
daydreamer, Walter Mitty is a negative assets manager for Life magazine, which
is preparing to print its final issue before going to a digital publication.
His new boss, Ted Hendricks shows little feeling as he announces that the
magazine will be firing most of its staff. Being a senior staff member should secure his
job, until he misplaces a negative from the legendary photographer Sean
O'Connell (Sean Penn) that was intended for Life’s final cover.
With a push
from Cheryl Melhoff (Kristen Wiig), the object of Walter’s secret crush, Walter
decides to track down the elusive O’Connell, who gives a whole new meaning to
old school with his telegraph communication. Walter’s trip takes him from
Greenland, to Iceland, and finally to Afghanistan, and along the way his
real-life escapades become greater than his day dream ones, but more
importantly Walter’s revelations completely change his life. He’s no longer
shuffling through life, thinking of what ifs, but living it to its fullest.
No audio commentary appears in this
package, but there are plenty of bonus content.
Short featurettes include focuses on
the set design and musical score. The real fun is when they explore the whimsical
opening title sequence, a behind-the-scenes look at shooting Stiller's
skateboarding scenes in the gorgeous Icelandic countryside, an animated chase sequence
through Manhattan, auditions of the supporting actors in Iceland and "The
History of Walter Mitty," which honours James Thurber and references the
1947 film starring Danny Kaye.
Bottom line:
It’s a light hearted story, that rather than poke fun at the root story like
most comedic approaches would, he instills whimsy entwined with the mystic
voyage of self discovery. There are plenty of things to laugh at on the
journey, but Stiller brings a serious sense of introspection that his previous
work lacks, that tempers the feel of the piece. The movie is unexpected, and a
recommended journey of discovery.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is on DVD starting today.
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