I remember a time in junior high when I was reading a lot of Stephen King novels. Anytime I would find myself with nothing to do, I would write these long narratives describing the little detais of my life. However, I never imagined someone else narrating my life like some omniscient third-party.
In “Stranger Than Fiction,” Will Ferrell plays Harold Crick, an I.R.S. auditor who’s been living quietly a mundane existence until he starts to hear a woman’s voice, supplied by Emma Thompson, narrating his life.
Although this is a fantasy, drama and comedy rolled into one, it is a sweet tale of morality and responsibility. It’s about what small things make life worthwhile, how our choices affect other people and how life is too short to waste a lot of time. Although I’ve always believed that comedy is more difficult than drama, Ferrell shows that he has dramatic potential, playing Crick with a believable earnestness and candor. It’s amazing that a good film like this ever got made as it very smart and creative, unlike much of the drivel and re-hash that has come to theatres this season (e.g., “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause“). In the words of Larry the Cucumber, “I laughed. I cried. It moved me.” This film is definitely worth the suspension of disbelief.