The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a film, which thrives in the visual first, and the story second. But the story is a very close second. Based on a short story in the New Yorker magazine by James Thurber – but not completely following it – we see Walter Mitty – played by Ben Stiller – trudge through a dull, dreary life. He wants love but is having trouble through dating services and his own horrible awkwardness. He suffers form zone out sessions which make him stare off into space and dream up all sorts of adventure sequences.
Walter works at Life magazine, and in a plot device coming very close to today’s media landscape, learns that the magazine will shut down and many jobs will be going – including his. While all this goes on he attempts to get the attention co-worker Cheryl – Kristin Wiig – and tries to stand up to his new boss – played by a ridiculously bearded Adam Scott all the while trying to find a photo that’s mysteriously gone missing.
The missing photo leads Walter onto an extraordinary trip to find the photographer, and he goes to extreme lengths that make the visual aspect to the film come to life. Sean Penn’s small role of the photographer Sean O’Connell is playful and in a weird way, smarmy as well.
Stiller and cinematographer, Stuart Dryburgh, have taken the appealing aspect of the images that Life is well known for and ingrains it in a movie that is not only about the journey of one man trying to find another, but also about appreciating what is around us.
Kristin Whig’s performance has an extra element to it that makes it more than just a love interest. Other performances by Shirley MacLaine and Patton Oswalt are grounded and add an extra icing to the film.
If there is a misstep to this film, it’s that it takes a little too long to get into gear. The set up flows along well enough plot wise, but the visual aspect of office life in the concrete jungle makes things a little dreary. I suppose that is what this film is trying convey in reflecting Walter Mitty’s life before the transformation.
Stiller is an interesting filmmaker. He’s seems to keep on trying to break out of films that he has been stereotyped to make in the past. The comedy in this film goes for more cheerful amusing situations, rather than straight up jokes, and it is refreshing to see Stiller tackle the role. A particular scene that parodies The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is subtly, rather than uproaringly funny.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is about the transformation of a man as he discovers his courage, and in a similar way, this movie transforms into a delightful story that swirls with colour and light in far fantastical places. Kudos to Stiller for taking the bold leap into something can be classed as inspirational for any young person. Or even those who are young at heart.
Review Score: FOUR STARTS (OUT OF FIVE)
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This film was reviewed as part of the CMJ festival in New York City in October of this year. It is released in Australia on Boxing Day, December 26th in national release.
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